Box Score
MOBILE, Ala.- The Belhaven women's basketball team landed its second straight Southern States Athletic Conference win Thursday night, defeating the University of Mobile on the road 63-57. The victory moves the Blazers into third place in the SSAC West Division standings and avenges a 60-44 loss to the Rams earlier this season.

Belhaven (11-15, 8-7 SSAC) went on the attack early and delivered the games first points 40 seconds into the action. Senior guard Sarah Carr drilled the first of her seven baskets, finding the mark from three point land for 3-0 lead. Carr went on to have one of her best games of the season, finishing the night with a team high 16 points.

The Blazers held the lead until a layup by Mobile's Deonica McCormick put the Rams on top 6-5 with 16:53 to play in the first half. Mobile (14-13, 8-8 SSAC) pulled out to its largest lead of the game at 16-9 five minutes later, thanks to another McCormick jumper.

Belhaven didn't panic and the defense kept things from getting out of hand until the offense found its rhythm late in the first half. The Blazers pulled back to even at 22-22 on a layup by junior forward Amber Smith with 5:41 on the clock. Smith out fought a couple of Ram defenders for an offensive rebound off a missed shot. Smith's efforts paid dividends for the Belhaven attack and got things rolling in the right direction.

Mobile briefly gained the lead back when McCormick added two more of her game high 21 points for a 24-22 Rams advantage. However, an 8-1 scoring run by Belhaven ensued and gave the Blazers the lead for good. Smith tied the game again on a layup off an assist by junior forward Erika Leflore and then Carr capped the burst with a bucket at the 1:55 mark of the first half making it a 30-25 game. Belhaven eventually led 34-30 at the break.

The Blazers left nothing to chance in the second half, blasting out to a 47-36 lead with 14:20 to play. Senior forward Ashley Wakefield drilled the triple that gave Belhaven its first double digit lead of the night. The Blazers enjoyed their largest advantage when 15 points separated them from Mobile. Senior forward Alisha Rayborn converted two free throws to make it a 54-39 contest with 10:16 left in the second half.

Plenty of time remained for Mobile to make a comeback and over the next six minutes they would make their final charge. An 11-1 run trimmed the deficit to five points at 55-50 following a Briana Edwards layup with 4:40 showing on the clock. Fortunately, a Rayborn free throw and field goal stopped the run and bumped Belhaven's edge back to 58-50 with just over three minutes to go. The Rams would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Carr led the Blazers with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field and Wakefield also ended the night in double figures with 14 points. Leflore dominated the glass hauling down 12 rebounds while adding nine points. It was the ninth time this season that Leflore has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in a game.

Sophomore center TaShayla Steede wasn't far behind Leflore, grabbing 11 rebounds of her own while chipping in with nine points. Rayborn had half of Belhaven's 12 assists and contributed eight points.

As a team, the Blazers hit 44.9% of their field goals (22-49) and out-rebounded Mobile 38-37. Belhaven made four three's in seven attempts and converted 15 of 21 free throw attempts (71.4%).

McCormick went 10 of 18 from the field for Mobile and led all scorers with 21 points. Shontae Dillon followed with 12 points and Edwards contributed 10 points. Sharifa Chandler led the Rams on the glass with eight rebounds. Belhaven's defense made it tough for the Rams to score baskets, limiting them to a23 of 65 shooting night from the field (35.4%).

Belhaven will return home to battle SSAC rival William Carey on Saturday beginning at 2:00 PM in Rugg Arena.