ORANGEBURG, South Carolina – UNCW junior guard Za'Nautica Downs didn't need ice for an injury after UNCW's road opener at South Carolina State on Monday night. Instead, she was looking for something to cool her off after her sizzling 32-point performance lifted the Seahawks to a 69-56 victory over the Lady Bulldogs at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
 
The win elevated the Seahawks' record to 2-1 on the young season while South Carolina State dropped its fourth contest in a row.
 
Downs, who had scored just 13 points in the Seahawks' first two games, tallied 25 of her game-high 32 points after the intermission as UNCW remained perfect in nine all-time meetings with South Carolina State. The Moultrie, Ga., product connected on 10-of-13 shots from the floor, including a near-perfect 6-for-7 from behind the arc, and sank six of her eight free throws.
 
Senior forward Carol-Anne Obusek added the first double-double of her college career after scoring 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting along with a career-high 13 rebounds, including seven caroms on the offensive glass.
 
South Carolina State was led by freshman forward Trinity Klock's 13 points and six rebounds while freshman guard Somer Wilson came off the bench to contribute 10 points.
 
Key Moment: UNCW used a 12-4 run over a six-minute span in the third quarter to build a 45-34 advantage. Downs tallied nine points during the outburst, including a pair of triples.
 
Game Notes:

• UNCW outrebounded South Carolina State by a 40-31 margin … The Seahawks have not been outrebounded in any of their three games this season.
• The Seahawks had 17 offensive rebounds against the Lady Bulldogs, which they turned into 16 second-chance points … UNCW has grabbed 53 offensive rebounds in three games this season.
• UNCW hit a season-high nine three-pointers in Monday night's victory over South Carolina State … The Seahawks are now 23-for-62 from beyond the arc.
• Downs became the first UNCW player to score 30 or more points since Jan. 5, 2020, when GiGi Smith tallied 32 points in an overtime loss against Drexel.
• Downs' 14 points in the third quarter were one point shy of matching the UNCW record for points in a single quarter … The record of 15 points was set by Madison Raque in the fourth quarter against Hofstra on Feb. 4, 2018.
• Downs' six three-pointers are the most by a UNCW player since Feb. 23, 2018, when Timber Tate hit six triples at Charleston.
• Redshirt junior Dazia Powell made the first start of her college career against South Carolina State on Monday night … The Raleigh, N.C., native scored four points with three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.
• Freshman guard Sallie Vick made her college debut when she entered the game with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter.
• Freshman guard Evan Miller scored the first points of her college career with a three-pointer with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter.

Up Next: UNCW returns to Trask Coliseum on Friday, Dec. 11 to welcome in-state foe UNCG for a 2 p.m. non-conference contest. The game can be seen on FloHoops and heard in the Wilmington area on 95.9 The Breeze.   

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