Senior guard Shatia Cole made a jumper with 6.5 seconds remaining in regulation as UNCW rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to edge Jacksonville 51-49 at the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic at Trask Coliseum on Friday afternoon.
The win elevated the Seahawks’ record to 2-1, while the Dolphins dropped to 2-3 on the season.
Cole came off the bench to score a game-high 13 points for the Seahawks, making 5 of 11 shots from the floor and both of her free throw attempts. She also added five rebounds and three steals.
Junior forward Jordan Henry posted her third consecutive double-digit scoring effort to begin the season, scoring 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field. She also tallied seven rebounds and three steals.
After Kayla Gordon gave Jacksonville a 49-47 lead with 2:02 remaining, the Seahawks tied the game with 28 seconds left on a jumper by Henry. UNCW forced a turnover with 12 seconds remaining before Cole connected on her jumper in the lane to give the Seahawks a two-point edge. Jacksonville had two chances in the closing seconds to tie the game, but was unable to convert either shot.
The Seahawks return to the floor for their second game in as many days against Davidson on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside Trask Coliseum.
