CARROLLTON, Ga. – A solid defensive effort and a 18-0 run in the first half set the tone for Shorter in their Gulf South Conference clash at West Georgia but the Lady Hawks had to fight off the determined Wolves down the stretch to claim a 51-43 win Monday night at The Coliseum.

The victory improves the Lady Hawks to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the GSC as they head home to host their first games at the Winthrop-King Centre facing conference foe Mississippi College on Saturday at 2 p.m. and squaring off against No. 22-ranked Delta State in another league showdown next Monday at 6 p.m.

Against the Wolves (2-12, 2-6), the Lady Hawks overcame a sluggish start scoring eight unanswered points to close out the opening quarter and take a 12-5 advantage, then continued the run in the second stanza reeling off six more points to take an 22-5 lead – the 17-point margin was Shorter's largest of the game – with four minutes remaining in the first half with Kayla Tillie scoring on a layup to end the streak.

Shorter went on to secure a 25-13 edge at the break as the Lady Hawks held West Georgia to just a 12 percent accuracy from the floor over the first 20 minutes

The Wolves, however, refused to fold their tent and thanks to a jumper by Katrina Littlepage in the final seconds of the third quarter pulled her team to within six, 36-30.

West Georgia stayed within striking distance in the final 10 minutes and with 2:51 left to play, cut Shorter's lead to four, 45-41, with Littlepage canned a three-pointer.

That, however, was as close as the Wolves would get as Shorter outscored the home team 6-2 the rest of the way with Shakierya McClendon and Taylor Adams hitting a pair of shots from the floor and Adams and Madison Rice each connecting on a free throw to seal the win.

Adams led the Lady Hawks with a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds, while McClendon – the senior paced the defensive charge with five steals – and Shaundricka Mann had 11 points each as Shorter closed out the night shooting 39 percent from the field, converted just 1-of-11 three-pointers and hit 16 of 27 free throws.

Littlepage led all scorers with 22 points but was the lone player to reach double digits for West Georgia, which saw four players leave the game early with five fouls apiece.