Pedro – Michelle Matkins didn’t get to be a 1,000-point scorer by passing up shots.

Tuesday, January 11, 2000

Pedro – Michelle Matkins didn’t get to be a 1,000-point scorer by passing up shots. Rock Hill Redwomen coach Tracey Mullins reminded her of that at halftime.

Matkins took just five shots the first half and Rock Hill trailed the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 32-28. Mullins challenged Matkins to assert herself the second half.

"We didn’t play well the first half. We weren’t shooting the basketball well and we were making too many mistakes," said Mullins. "And I told Michelle to start shooting."

She did.

Matkins scored 19 of her game-high 28 points the second half as Rock Hill stormed back to post a 68-56 Ohio Valley Conference win Monday.

"We just stepped it up the second half," said Mullins. "Michelle shot well, the defense played better, and we hit our free throws."

Rock Hill made 21-of-28 from the foul line including Matkins who was 11-for-11.

But a real key in the win may have been the defense. Miranda Edwards shut down Erin Sutphin the fourth quarter and Mandy McDonie limited Chesapeake’s leading scorer Kati Fuller to a mere 8 points including a 3-pointer at the final buzzer.

"Mandy McDonie did a good job on Kati the whole night, and Miranda Edwards shut down Sutphin and played well all night," said Mullins. "And Jordan Edwards did a good job inside and outside."

Jordan Edwards finished with 15 points. McDonie had five rebounds and three assists while Amanda Mays got two steals.

Jessica Hall scored 16 and Sutphin had 15 to lead the Lady Panthers (7-4, 1-1) who saw their seven-game winning streak snapped.

Chesapeake took a 12-11 first quarter lead and used 7 points by Sutphin to build the halftime edge. Miranda Edwards had 7 points to keep Rock Hill close.

Matkins scored 9 points and McDonie was 5-of-6 from the line the third quarter as Rock Hill rallied to take a 48-45 lead.

Matkins knocked down 10 points – a perfect 6-of-6 from the line – the fourth quarter as Rock Hill began to pull away.

Rock Hill is now 9-2 on the season and 2-0 in the league. But Mullins warned that the OVC race was far from over.

"You have to be ready to play every night of the conference. There’s not going to be an easy game," said Mullins.

The Redwomen play at South Gallia Thursday.

CHESAPEAKE – 12 20 13 8 – 56: Michelle Christian 1 0 0-0 2, Lindsey Stiltner 3 0 1-2 7, Erin Sutphin 4 2 1-2 15, Kati Fuller 1 1 3-4 8, Jessica Hall 4 1 5-6 16, Tiffany Porter 0 0 0-2 0, Kim Frye 2 0 2-6 6, Michelle Elkins 1 0 0-0 2, Lindsey Swann 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 4 12-22 56. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL – 11 17 20 20 – 68: Miranda Edwards 3 0 3-3 9, Jordan Edwards 7 0 1-2 15, Amanda Mays 1 0 1-4 3, Mandy McDonie 1 0 5-6 7, Michelle Matkins 7 1 11-11 28, Bobbi Clark 2 0 0-1 4, Cindy Boggs 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 22 1 21-28 68. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 28 (Matkins 7, McDonie 5). Assists: 9 (McDonie 3). Steals: 7 (Mays 2). Turnovers: 9.