LAKELAND, Fla. – The Lee women's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season in impressive style, whipping St. Leo (Fla.) 93-65. The Lady Flames will continue play in the SSC/GSC Challenge on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they face sixth-ranked and host Florida Southern.
Junior Carrie Cheeks paced the Lady Flames with a double-double, 23 points and 16 rebounds. She made 10-of-14 shots from the field. Junior Haley Cornellison also contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She knocked down 4-of-5 field goal attempts. Junior Erin Walsh followed with 14 points and freshman Taylor Boggess finished with 11 points and 5-of-9 shooting. Junior Shelby Brown gave the Lady Flames five players in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds.
Cornellison and freshman Many Long dished off five assists apiece, while Lindsey Roddy kicked in with three assists and six rebounds. The Lady Flames shot 52 percent from the field and made 11-of-16 free throws. They turned the ball over 16 times but had 25 key assists to go along with seven steals.
"I thought we competed today on both ends and beat a good basketball team," said a pleased coach Marty Rowe. "We shared the ball and did a great job of establishing Carrie (Cheeks) early.
"We will need to play exceptionally well on Saturday because Florida Southern is really good, but our players are excited about the opportunity to play one of the top –ranked teams in Division II." Florida Southern handed Shorter University an 84-42 defeat in Friday's other contests.
