The UNC Wilmington women’s basketball team opened its season with a win Wednesday night, defeating Division II foe Johnson C. Smith, 63-51.

This exhibition game served as the first of two trial runs for the team in preparation for the regular season. It also provided UNCW with an opportunity to work players in many situations, as well as allowing second-year Seahawk coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke the chance to find any holes in her team.

“I thought we played OK,” said Cooper-Dyke. “We had some lapses in defense and I just thought we didn’t execute offensively.”

UNCW was led offensively by junior college transfer Karneshia Garrett, who provided 20 points while also pulling down 13 rebounds. “The intensity from a junior college level to a Division Ilevel was way different, but after a while, I got going and it was nothing,” said Garrett about her first game as a Seahawk.

Fellow junior college transfer Chelsea McGowen impressed in her debut as well. McGowen chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds as a part of what proved to be a dominant duo in the post. In regards to their quick-developing chemistry, Garrett and McGowen say they are not surprised. “We’ve gotten to know each others playing styles,” said McGowen. “I know that she’s going to be posting hard down low when I have the ball up high, and she knows that when she’s doubled teamed, I’m there waiting at the top of the key.”

The returning players picked up where they left off last season as junior Abria Trice added to the offensive output with 11 points, while sophomore Alisha Andrews provided five points alongside 12 assists.

While the Seahawks did allow Johnson C. Smith to creep back into the game late, UNCW’s defense held the Golden Bulls to a meager 28.6 shooting percentage and out-rebounded the Bulls 47-40.

The victory came as the fifth in a row for UNCW in exhibition matches, and put the Seahawks in position to tweak a few elements before wrapping up preseason play against UNC Pembroke on Sunday.

“We didn’t take care of the ball; we didn’t value the ball, so we’ve got to go back to the drawing board on a few things,” said Cooper-Dyke. “For the most part, I’m happy we got a win, but I’m not satisfied with the way we played.”

UNCW will look to improve upon its seventh-place predicted CAA finish, as the Seahawks open up the regular season Nov. 11 against Middle Tennessee State.