Courtesy of Tim Hower
Sports@StarNewsOnline.com
Supply, NC - Lori Drake was going to get her message across.
The Cape Fear Community College women's basketball coach called a timeout less than two minutes into Thursday night's game at Brunswick Community College.
Nine minutes later, Drake still wasn't pleased with what she saw, so she used another timeout.
Her point was finally made, and the Sea Devils dominated the final eight minutes of the first half and held on to earn a 76-64 victory, the program's first at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center.
"We're the type of team that we feed off the energy and the intensity that we bring to the floor," Drake said. "I know it's tough for these kids to play back-to-back conference games, but in order for us to be great there is no excuse for us not to bring it.
"Sometimes as the coach you have to be the energy. You have to be it for them and they feed off of it ... and obviously we turned it around."
The Dolphins (5-9, 1-5 Region X) led 17-12 following a layup from former Laney standout Briana Baham with 9:24 left in the opening half. That basket, coming off an offensive rebound, forced Drake to use her second timeout.
BCC increased the lead to 21-15 a minute later before the Sea Devils (13-4, 8-2) closed the half on a 24-6 run to take a 10-point lead into the break.
Guards Alexius Hampton and Victoria Florence carried the offensive load, scoring 16 points during the run.
Hampton continued her hot play in the second half, scoring 13 of her game-high 22 points in the final 20 minutes.
"When (our post players) are struggling, we have to get something going from our guards and then give it back to our posts and give them another chance."
Forward Eboni Gilliam, the Sea Devils' leading scorer, was held to just six points in the first half. She came on strong in the second half and finished with 19 for her ninth consecutive double-figure scoring effort.
CFCC opened up a 13-point lead early in the second half before the Dolphins closed the gap to seven.
While Baham was at the line hitting a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 51-44, Drake called Florence over and told her guard they needed some offensive production.
Following missed shots from both teams, Florence delivered for her coach by draining a 3-pointer to increase the lead back to double digits.
That shot ignited a 10-4 run, capped by another Florence 3, to put CFCC out in front 61-48 with 8:30 remaining. BCC never got the margin closer than 10 for the rest of the game.
"They had their momentum and I knew I had to hit a big shot to get the momentum back on our side, and that's what I did," Florence said.
D'Asya Wilson scored 18 to lead the Dolphins, while Monica Smalls added 15. Baham finished with 13.
The win was the fifth in a row to open the new year for the Sea Devils, who are still in a position to claim the top seed in the Region X tournament.
"When you're winning you have to challenge the girls," Drake said. "Every night we have a game it's a new challenge."
The Sea Devils will face some upcoming challenges. They still play at No. 9 Guilford Tech and twice against No. 11 Louisburg.