HICKORY, N.C. — For the second time this season, the Catawba Valley Community College women's basketball team struggled against Division I Walters State, falling 61-30 to the Senators at the Tarlton Complex on Wednesday.

Shaniya Lester led the Red Hawks (9-3) with nine points and five rebounds, while freshman post Zharia Brown also scored nine points.

CVCC struggled to maintain possession of the basketball against Walters State, committing 35 total turnovers in the contest.

Tied 10-10 in the early stages of the first quarter, the Senators closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 18-10 after one stanza.

Walters State added to its run early in the second quarter, outscoring CVCC 12-2 in the opening minutes of the quarter en route to a 30-12 halftime lead, and the Red Hawks could not recover in the second half on the way to defeat.

The CVCC women's basketball team looks to rebound on Monday with a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day game against Bryant & Stratton College (Va.). Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Tarlton Complex.