LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University women's basketball team won their 2015-16 Sun Conference opener at home over Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday night in the Turner Athletic Center.  The Lady Royals had nine players score points while holding the Wildcats to 37.1% shooting in the game.  The win evens the Lady Royals' record at 4-4 while dropping the Wildcats to 0-5 on the season.

The Lady Royals got off to a hot start in the first half and led 20-11 at the end of the first quarter.  However, the Wildcats closed the gap to within three, 24-21, with a 10-4 run to start the second quarter.  Warner's Baylie Bridges sparked a 9-0 run with a three pointer at the 6:21 mark of the second quarter.  The Lady Royals rode the run to a 33-21 lead down to the 2:27 mark.  Porsche Shakes hit two free throws to give the Lady Royals their largest lead of the game.

Overall the Lady Royals shot 53.6% in the first half and were 4-for-7 from behind the arc.  They led 37-27 at the break and had eight players with at least two points.  Bridges led the way with eight points including two of Warner's four shots from behind the arc.

The Lady Royals stretched their lead to 14 points, 57-43, after three quarters of action.  The Lady Royals' defense held the Wildcats to 33.3% shooting in the third quarter and forced six turnovers. 

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats made things interested shooting better than 50% from the field cutting the Lady Royals' lead to five with 4:18 to go in regulation.  From there, however, the Lady Royals scored six straight points and led by 11, 71-60, with 1:30 left in the game and held on for the 71-65 victory.

Corlisa Pope led all scorers with a season-high 16 points.  The Warner forward was 7-for-11 from the field and hauled in five rebounds.  Porsche Shakes followed with 11 points and had four assists as well.  Baylie Bridges finished with 10 points and three rebounds in the win.

The Lady Royals forced 17 Wildcat turnovers in the game and made the most of the extra possessions scoring 20 points off turnovers.

The Lady Royals are back on the court tomorrow night, Dec. 3, for a 7:30 p.m. match up with Trinity Baptist College.  Warner won the first meeting between the two schools 90-67 back on Oct. 31 in Jacksonville, Fla.


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