DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kendra Cooper scored a game- and season-high 24 points Tuesday night, pacing four Wildcats in double-figures scoring as Bethune-Cookman rolled over Warner University, 100-28, in non-conference women's basketball action at Moore Gymnasium.
Bethune-Cookman (5-5) erupted for 100 points for the first time since 1991-92, when the Wildcats took down Edward Waters by a score of 106-65, then under the direction of head coach Alvin B. Wyatt, Sr. Tuesday night's victory also represented the largest margin of victory for women's basketball in B-CU history.
B-CU began the game on the strength of a 19-2 advantage after the first quarter of play.
Freshman Chasimmie Brown (Deltona, Fla.) poured in five points in the opening stanza, while teammate and All-MEAC performer Kailyn Williams (New Orleans, La.) added six points and three rebounds to open.
Overall, the Cats shot 45 percent in the first half, turning 17 Warner Royals (5-5) turnovers into 20 points. B-CU also scored 20 points off second chance opportunities. The Cats owned the boards in the opening 20 minutes with a 29-15 edge in rebounding – 12 coming on the offensive glass. B-CU also limited Warner to just 13 percent (3-of-23) shooting as it was guard Porsche Shakes leading the way with four points for the Royals at the break.
B-CU held a 48-8 advantage at the break.
It was the second-lowest scoring output allowed in a half under head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, as the Maroon and Gold limited Edward Waters to seven (7) first half points – holding a 35-7 halftime lead, earlier this season at home.
In the second half, Bethune-Cookman continued increasing its lead at a record stride.
Junior guard Kendra Cooper (Spring, Texas) combined with backcourt mate Angel Golden (Tampa, Fla.) to knock down three consecutive three-pointers in the Wildcats trips on the offensive end, stretching the lead at 87-24, on the strength of a 15-0 run to begin the fourth and final quarter.
Following Golden's season-best sixth three-pointer of the game, B-CU's Brown connected on one of two free throws to allow the Cats to reach the century mark in scoring for the first time in more than 20 years.
Cooper led the Cats in scoring with her 24-point outburst on 8-of-14 shooting from the field – adding four (4) three-pointers in the process. She would go on to hand out seven assists.
Joining Cooper in the double-figures scoring column was Golden with 22 points – 18 coming from beyond the arc, as she also picked up five steals on defense. Brown chipped in with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Kailyn Williams poured in 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Williams also registered five blocks.
Lyndsey Edwards (Indianapolis, Ind.) contributed three blocked shots, while Taylor Houston (Raleigh, N.C.) added a career-best 11 rebounds.
For Warner, they were led by Kayla Guerrero, Kashari James and Shakes with six points each. Isis Mance added four points and six rebounds in a losing effort.
Bethune-Cookman hits the road for the remainder of the 2015 calendar year, traveling next to nearby DeLand, Florida for the two-day Stetson Hatter Classic. The Cats open against Georgia State on Sunday, December 20, at 3 p.m. They conclude the Classic with Georgia Southern the following day, once again at 3 p.m.
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