DELAND, Fla. — Shakeyia Colyer scored 13 points, including 11 in the second half, to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 59-48 women's basketball victory over Georgia Southern in the Hatter Classic Wednesday afternoon in the Edmunds Center.
    Alexis Sams and MiMi DuBose each scored 10 points for the Eagles (1-7), while Meredyth Frye (right) added nine points and four rebounds, and Maggie Davis posted eight points and six rebounds. DuBose was named to the all-tournament team.
    Colyer went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line in the second half for Bethune-Cookman (5-5), and Terrenisha Hollis tallied 12 points and four steals. Sharnese Neal finished with nine points and five rebounds.
    The Eagles led 39-36 with 9:47 left in the game, but Bethune-Cookman used a 14-0 run over the next 5:07 to take control of the contest. Neal scored five points during the stretch, and the Lady Wildcats opened a 50-39 cushion.
    A pair of free throws by DuBose and Anna Claire Knight helped cut the lead to 51-44 with four minutes to go, but Colyer connected on a jumper, and the Eagles came up empty on their next possession. GSU battled on defense on B-CU's trip down the floor, but the Lady Wildcats were able to secure two offensive rebounds, forcing the Eagles to foul with 2:02 to play. Colyer made six consecutive free throws to seal the win.
    Bethune-Cookman shot 52 percent in the second half and had 10 steals in the contest, forcing 18 Eagle turnovers that led directly to eight B-CU fast-break points.
    "I thought we competed physically for 40 minutes, communicated well and really battled for each other," said Georgia Southern coach Chris Vozab. "We had too many turnovers at crucial times that led to easy baskets, and that put too much pressure on our offense."
    Bethune-Cookman jumped out to a 13-5 lead to open the contest, but the Eagles fought back with a 12-2 run. Sams hit a triple, Frye scored on a drive and DuBose capped the spurt with a triple to give GSU its first lead of the game at 17-15 with 7:28 left in the half.
    The Lady Wildcats responded with consecutive steals that turned into layups and went into the break holding a 25-22 advantage. The Eagles held B-CU to 33 percent shooting from the field but shot just 32 percent and committed 10 turnovers.
    The Eagles return to action at Kennesaw State Friday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.