Panther women’s hoops have won their first Mountain Seven game.
After facing a gauntlet of tough opponents outside the conference to start the season, on Dec. 15 Franklin hosted East Henderson on Tom Raby Court. In a 47-38 win, the Panthers started their Mountain Seven schedule 1-0.
Franklin’s backcourt looked sharp on both ends early, as Cali Queen and Audrey Pressley combined for three steals, a block and six points. East soon returned the favor however, kickstarting their offense to end the first period up 16-13.
Queen and Pressley stayed hot into the second, adding an assist, three steals and seven points to their backcourt total. Midway through the quarter though, Queen attempted a long jump shot and landed akwardly on an Eagle’s foot. She hopped back to Franklin’s bench favoring her right leg and did not return.
Senior Avery Moffitt picked up the torch for the rest of the quarter, posting two points and two steals to end the half up 25-22.
The game turned into a defensive slog in the third, led for the Panthers by a block and a steal from junior center Charley Seagle. Pressley sparked Franklin’s offense midway through the quarter though, posting nine points and a steal to put her team up 39-27.
Franklin’s defense kept harassing East in the fourth, getting three straight blocks from Seagle and steals from Pressley, Moffitt and junior Aubrey Haley. Pressley ended the quarter with three steals, an assist and three points to secure a 47-38 Panther win.
“They’ve worked on their defense a lot, and they’re shooting a lot better [than] that East team from two years ago,” said Moffitt of East after the game, who have looked much-improved under new head coach Tammy George. “I felt like we came out a little bit slow, but we ended up pulling it out.”
After starting their Mountain Seven schedule with a win, Franklin hosted Tuscola in their second conference game Dec. 19. On Dec. 22, they’ll travel to Western Carolina University, where they’ll take on A.C. Reynolds in the Catamount Clash of Conferences.