Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) scored 19 points including the go-ahead three-pointer with five seconds to go to give the College of Charleston women's basketball team the 49-46 win over Liberty in the consolation game of the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational.
Down 31-28 with 15:52 remaining in the second half, Megan Fischer (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) connected on eight straight points, including a career-high two three-pointers, to lead a 10-2 run by the Cougars that turned a three-point deficit to a five-point, 38-33 lead with 10:39 on the clock. The Lady Flames outscored the Cougars 13-4 over the next nine minutes to take a 44-42 lead before a lay-up by Fischer tied it up again with 1:35 on the clock.
A Liberty basket and two free throws later, the score was tied for the 11th time at 46 with 57 seconds to go. The Cougars controlled possession and ran the clock down to the five second mark. Gerty posted up just outside the three-point line on the right side and sank in the eventual game-winner. Liberty had a chance at the buzzer but stingy defense by the Cougars forced the off-balance shot attempt and Charleston escaped with the 49-46 win.
Both teams struggled from the field early and Charleston didn't hit a field goal until Gerty, part of her 12 straight to open the game, hit a jumper at the 13 minute mark. With five free throws though, the Cougars were only down 6-7. After the Cougars built a six-point lead, 14-8 with 9:29 to go in the first half, Liberty went on a 9-0 run to take a three-point, 17-14 lead with 5:38 to go before intermission.
Following Gerty with her 19 points was Fischer, who had a career-high 14 points. Charleston's 28 rebounds were spread out with Deidre Ramer (Franklin, Tenn.) leading the team with five.
Leading Liberty was Jelena Antic with 16 points. Kylee Beecher had nine rebounds to lead Liberty's 42 boards.
After connecting on just four of 14 shots in the first half, the Cougars responded with a 10-for-28 effort in the second to come away with a 33.3 shooting percentage. Liberty shot 36.5 percent. The Cougars were 16-for-22 from the free throw line and kept them in the game in the first half, going 13-for-17 and accounting for almost half of their points in the first 20 minutes. The Lady Flames were seven-for-17 from the charity stripe.
Turnovers were fairly even with Liberty holding the 26-22 advantage. The lead changed 19 times and there were 11 ties.
The Cougars are next in action Tuesday, Nov. 16 against Coastal Carolina. Tip-off for Charleston's first home game of the season is at 5:00 p.m. and is part of a doubleheader with the men's team. For ticket information go to www.CofCSports.com or call the ticket office at 843-953-2632.
