Women's Basketball Suffers Setback at Bishop State
Mobile, AL – Calhoun women's basketball dropped an 85–59 road decision at Bishop State on Thursday night, as the Warhawks struggled to overcome the Wildcats' size, pressure, and rebounding advantage.
From the opening tip, Calhoun worked to navigate Bishop State's physicality and defensive pressure. The teams traded baskets through the first 10 minutes of play, with the Warhawks doing enough early to stay within striking distance despite giving up a size advantage inside. Bishop State held a narrow 15–13 lead at the end of the first quarter, as Calhoun mixed defensive looks and ball movement to keep pace.
The game shifted decisively in the second quarter. Calhoun again scored 13 points in the frame, but Bishop State's offense surged, pouring in 28 points to open up a double-digit halftime lead. The Wildcats' half-court trap disrupted Calhoun's rhythm, forcing turnovers that quickly turned into points on the other end and allowed Bishop to seize control before the break.
Rebounding also became a major factor as the game wore on. Bishop State dominated the glass throughout the night, collecting 12 offensive rebounds and finishing with a 44–23 overall advantage, limiting Calhoun's ability to string together defensive stops.
Out of halftime, the Warhawks showed fight. Calhoun matched Bishop point-for-point in the third quarter, deadlocking the frame at 17–17 as the visitors worked to claw back momentum. However, that push stalled in the final 10 minutes, as Bishop State regained control and outscored Calhoun 25–16 in the fourth to close out the conference victory.
Despite the loss, Calhoun found balance offensively, with four Warhawks scoring in double figures in a tough road environment.
Head Coach Candace Byrd pointed to rebounding as the difference following the game. "We can't get outworked on the glass the way we did tonight," Byrd said. "That effort piece has to be non-negotiable for us. When you give a team extra possessions like that, especially on the road, it makes it really hard to stay in games."
Calhoun (11-10, 2-4) will look to bounce back quickly, traveling to Gadsden State (10-11, 2-4) on Monday, Feb. 9, for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
