Vikings' defense smothers Moses, rolls past Cougars

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on January 16, 2016 11:13 PM

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KINSTON -- No matter where she was on the court Friday evening, Tyona Moses carried a shadow with her.

A Kinston defender constantly smothered Moses, who managed just 11 points in the Cougars' 58-38 loss to the Vikings in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play.

Moses entered the game averaging 25.7 points.

"It was a very off night for her (Moses)," Goldsboro assistant coach Zeara McDuffie said. "They (Vikings) did a box-and-one, and that really messed her up. So, hopefully, when we run the plays, it will be better for her next time."

Kinston sophomore Dominqua Fields and senior Ka'lexis Mills followed Moses' every step from end of the court to the other. Junior Natiana Barnes scored the Cougars' first basket, a 3-pointer, off an assist from senior Kahmryn Brown.

But the Vikings ran away from the Cougars and led 24-7 after the first quarter. Senior Jada Faison's steal and layup helped Kinston go into halftime ahead 40-23.

Kinston (12-1 overall, 2-0 ECC) held Goldsboro scoreless in the third quarter until Barnes assisted Moses with a basket at the 1:17 mark. Senior Layshia Lofton grabbed the ball from Kinston and scored a layup, but the Cougars trailed 50-28 after three quarters.

Moses drove the lane, drew a foul and sank both free throws. She assisted freshman McKayla Roberts on a field goal and sophomore Destiny Lucas hit a 3-pointer toward the end of the game.

Lofton scored eight points for the Cougars, who fell to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the ECC. Roberts added six points and Brown had four points.

Faison led Kinston with 19 points. Senior Makia Davis had 16 points.

"We didn't play our best," McDuffie said. "We should have played better offense, but things happen. But when they (Kinston) come to us, we're going to win."