Wilmington, NC - The Cape Fear Community College women's basketball team used two decisive runs in the first half to jump out to an 18-point lead at the break and never looked back in an 86-63 win over rival Brunswick Community College on Thursday night.
On a night when players and coaches wore the traditional pink in honor of breast cancer awareness, freshman Kristin Rumplasch recorded a double-double with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, while classmate Eboni Gilliam scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half as eight different Sea Devils found the scoring column.
"We have so many weapons we can go to and that showed tonight," said CFCC second-year coach Lori Drake. "Kristina was able to get going early and they tried defended her better in the second half and we talked about that right after halftime and Eboni was able to refocus and find some rhythm.
"We've been practicing hard every day and it's showing right now. I'm pleased with our defensive effort, we're taking care of the transition game and as a coach, I feel like we're peaking are the right time. We're working hard and I tell the kids to just stay after it."
Both teams traded baskets to open the game until a block, steal and assist by Rumplasch led to easy fast break points for former New Hanover High School standout Shanta Williams. A defensive rebound on the next possession for the Sea Devils sparked an 18-3 run for Cape Fear as Rumplasch complimented her play in the post with a step-back three-ball from the wing to make it 19-5 and Victoria Florence came off the bench to knock down a trifecta with 11:15 to go in the half.
Brunswick Community College responded with a quick 11-0 spurt to get back in the contest and used a steal and easy lay-in by Tyesha McLean to make it a five-point game when Florence answered with her second three-ball to seize the momentum.
"We just had to get refocused," said Drake. "It's about dialing in at this point in the season and keeping everyone together. This game is about runs and Brunswick came back at us and we refocused a bit with the timeout and were able to make another nice little push before halftime."
Following a Dolphins turnover after the trey by Florence, the Sea Devils used a 7-0 swing and three consecutive shots from behind the arc-two by Williams and one by Alex Washington-as Cape Fear extended their cushion to 47-29 at the break.
The Sea Devils have now won five straight games and earned a split with Brunswick Community College after dropping a 79-74 contest right after the holiday break.
"The biggest difference between that first game against Brunswick and tonight was that we are all on the same page," said Drake. "I'm real pleased with the way we're working and I thought we played a little sluggish right after the holidays, but that's in the past and we are now turning our focus to Patrick Henry this weekend."
Cape Fear moved to 17-7 overall and evened their Region X mark to 7-7 as the Sea Devils play in their regular-season finale at home on Saturday against Patrick Henry CC. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
Courtesy of Joe Catenacci
