TOP PHOTO: Haley Comer, who had an all-star career at Campbell High, and her Walters State Lady Senators won big on Monday night.

MORRISTOWN, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Defense wins championships and on Monday night, it won Walters State their conference matchup against Motlow State. 

The playing time was limited in the blow out win. Former Campbell Lady Cougar Haley Comer, a sophomore, only played 20-minutes scoring six points while grabbing four rebounds to go along with two assists.

The Lady Senators dominated on the defensive end, holding the Lady Bucks to 6-33 shooting in the first half and 12-52 for the game, and carried that momentum over to the offensive end on their way to a 79-34 victory. 

With the win, Walters State improves to 5-1 on the season and 4-1 in conference play. It was their second victory of the season over Motlow. 

“We just applied some pressure defensively and got after them a little bit tonight,” head coach Jasmin Coleman said. “When you put heat on someone, it changes things.”  

The Lady Senators were led in the game by Kiera Hill who came off the bench and recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. It was also a career high in points and rebounds.  

“Kiera Hill did a really good job tonight,” Coleman said. “She just went and got it. She has been stepping it up on the rebounding front and rebounding is all heart and she’s got it.”  

Along with Hill, Blayre Shultz led the team with 21 points and had four steals. Shultz got the Lady Senators going in the second half, forcing two steals in the quarter and had nine points.  

Shultz has been the leader all season for Walters State, averaging 20.3 points per game.  

“Blayre is a leader every single day on the floor,” Coleman said. “She’s a competitor and a winner. We are lucky to have her in that role for us.”  

Madison Mccoy had 12 points for the Senators as well while Jaida Wiggins had seven. Every single Lady Senator scored in the contest.  

It was a slow start for both teams as they combined for just 16 points in the first quarter. The Lady Bucks made just one field in the quarter and turned the ball over six times.  

Shultz got the scoring going in the game with Walters State’s first three points. The lead was 7-4 before the Lady Senators closed out the quarter strong with points from Quentarra Mitchell and Ryann Woodley that gave Walters State an 11-5 lead.  

The offense picked up in the second quarter for Walters State as the Lady Senators went on a 15-4 run that made it 25-9. The run was capped off by two 3’s from Wiggins and Shultz and layups by Mccoy and Shultz.  

The Lady Senators continued to increase their lead as the quarter continued and led 34-17 at the break after a Hill layup ended the half.  

In the third quarter, the Lady Senators broke through, out-scoring Motlow State 23-10. It started on the defensive end as Walters State forced nine turnovers that led to easy baskets. The Lady Senators got lead to 30 by the end of the quarter on a De’Zah Lacy layup.  

In the fourth, Walters State had seven players score as they cruised to the victory. Hill had seven rebounds in the quarter, including three offensive boards. 

“We turned the ball over in the first half 12 times, and you can’t do much against anyone doing that,” Coleman said. “I just told them at the half to not turn the ball over and run our offense. In the second half, we only had four turnovers and did our jobs.”  

UP NEXT: 

Walters State will have a break before playing again. The Lady Senators will take the court on March 3, travelling to take on Chattanooga State. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/24/2021-6AM)

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