Fourth Quarter Fouls Cost Warhawks at Lawson State, 74-67
Birmingham, AL – Calhoun women's basketball saw momentum slip away late Thursday night, falling 74-67 on the road at Lawson State after a dramatic second-half swing.
The Warhawks faced an early uphill battle as the Cougars came out with urgency on their home floor. Lawson State controlled the tempo from the opening tip, capitalizing on early scoring opportunities and forcing Calhoun into difficult possessions. The Cougars built a sizable advantage in the first quarter, outscoring the Warhawks 25-11 and putting Calhoun in an early deficit.
Calhoun responded with resilience in the second quarter, settling into the game behind strong play from sophomore Jasmine Ervin. Ervin provided a steady offensive presence, scoring key baskets in the paint and helping stabilize the Warhawks' attack. The defensive energy also improved, as Calhoun held Lawson State to just seven points in the period while scoring 17 of their own. The surge cut the deficit to 32-28 at halftime and shifted momentum toward the Warhawks.
Coming out of the break, Calhoun delivered their strongest stretch of the night. Fueled by renewed defensive intensity and efficient execution on offense, the Warhawks dominated the third quarter. Calhoun outscored Lawson State 23-8 in the frame and erased the halftime deficit entirely, building a lead that grew to as many as 15 points.
The Warhawks' frontcourt anchored the run, consistently converting in the paint off precise entry passes and strong ball movement from the backcourt. The defensive effort created transition opportunities, and Calhoun appeared firmly in control heading into the final quarter.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the fourth. Foul trouble proved costly for the Warhawks, as two Calhoun starting guards fouled out early in the period. The loss of key backcourt contributors disrupted Calhoun's rhythm on both ends of the floor and allowed Lawson State an opening to climb back into the game.
The Cougars capitalized quickly, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to regain the lead and energize the home crowd. Despite continued efforts from Calhoun's frontcourt to generate offense, the Warhawks were unable to match Lawson State's late surge. The Cougars controlled the closing minutes and secured the 74-67 victory.
For Calhoun, the frontcourt once again led the way. Jasmine Ervin finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamya Glover added a dominant 19 points and 19 rebounds.
Head coach Candace Byrd said the loss was especially frustrating given how well her team had positioned itself after halftime. "This was a tough one because I felt like we had taken control in that third quarter," Byrd said. "Our energy, our defense, and our execution were exactly what we needed. Unfortunately, foul trouble changed the flow of the game and put us in a difficult spot down the stretch. We have to learn from this and make sure we close out strong in these final two games of the season."
Despite the loss, Calhoun showed its ability to compete and control stretches of play on the road, particularly with its dominant third-quarter performance.
The Warhawks now sit at (13-14, 4-8) on the season and will face a major challenge in their next matchup, traveling to take on nationally ranked No. 18 Wallace State (26-1, 11-1) on Monday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. in Hanceville.