’Jacks use second-half rally to stay unbeaten

BALTIMORE – Harcum College ran what amounted to a lay-up drill in the first half of Sunday's women's basketball game against Chesapeake College.  That left the unbeaten Skipjacks in unfamiliar territory – trailing at the half for the first time this season.

Chesapeake responded well to its first taste of adversity, picking up the pace defensively and holding the Bears to 27 second-half points as the Skipjacks eventually pulled away to post an 85-69 victory.  The win gave Chesapeake (7-0) a sweep of three games in three days in the Baltimore City Community College mixer.

"They came out in the second half and answered the call," said Chesapeake head coach Damon Nichols, whose team faced a 42-37 halftime deficit.  "I'm proud of the way they came together in the second half."

Nichols said guard Brianna Lawson, who hadn't gotten much playing time earlier this season, played a key role in the defense's second-half turnaround.

"Brianna came in and really sparked us," said Nichols.  "This tournament really boosted her confidence.  She's going to be in a lot more.  Right now I'd call her our defensive specialist."

Dejhonae Cannady scored a game-high 24 points – 17 of them in the second half – and pulled down eight rebounds as four Skipjacks reached double figures.

"She was running the floor and getting easy baskets," Nichols said of Cannady's second-half performance.  "She was taking it to the basket and getting to the line."

Brittany Taylor (six rebounds, five assists) had 18 points, Tyonna Teamer (five rebounds, two steals) added 15, and Najah Chambers (seven rebounds) scored 11 to join Cannady in double figures.  T'Naya Kebe added eight points and Lawson (three steals) scored four points.

The Bears (2-7) were led by Diamonique Carr, who scored a team-high 17 points.