The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team used a late second half rally, taking its first lead of the second half with 2:44 left in the game after banishing a seven point deficit, to rally past the visiting Coker University Cobras 66-56 this evening at the Wheeler Center. The Abbey, winners of six straight and nine of its last ten, moves to 11-8 overall and 10-3 in Conference Carolinas, while Coker drops to 2-16 overall and 2-10 in Conference Carolinas.

The Crusaders never led after the 12:26 mark of the first half and trailed Coker until there was 2:44 left in the contest. The Coker lead never rose above seven points, which came at 47-40 with 9:25 left. A 9-2 Abbey run deadlocked the contest at 49 with 6:09 to play, but the Cobras scored five of the next six points to stretch the lead back to four.

From there, the Abbey took over the game, as two Brittaney Rice free throws, followed by a layup from Melisa Foures knotted the game for the fourth time, this one coming at 54 with 3:39 left.

Coker missed a layup on its next trip down the floor, and Foures put the Abbey ahead to stay with a three-pointer at the 2:44 mark. Kelsey Long moved the lead to four with a free throw. She missed her next free throw attempt but corralled the rebound and fed Rice, who was fouled at the 1:00 mark. Her two free throws were true, and those put the Crusaders ahead 61-54.

A Coker turnover forced by Shayla Jackson on its next possession forced a Cobras foul, and Candace Fox swished both attempts to widen the gap to nine with 39 ticks left. Coker cut the lead down to seven with a quick layup, but the Cobras had to foul on the Abbey's next possession.

Jackson hit the first and missed the second, but Foures grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled with 20 seconds left. She hit the two free throws, the final two points of the game, to seal the win.

Jackson and Long led all scorers with 17 points. Long scored 15 of her points in the first half, sinking seven of eight shots. Jackson was one rebound shy of collecting a double double, finishing with nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and one blocked shot. Long grabbed five rebounds and finished with seven of ten shooting. Fox added 12 points, five assists and four steals. The Abbey shot 45.3 percent (24-53) from the floor and forced 27 Coker turnovers.

Coker was led by Jasmine Alston's 11 points, the only Cobra to reach double figures. Coker shot 46.8 percent (22-47) from the floor.

Coker led 28-26 at the half but the Abbey outscored the Cobras 40-28 in the final 20 minutes.