ATLANTA, Ga. - The Coastal Empire Lady Monarchs fell to 2-4 on the season after a 84-72 loss to the Atlanta Angels in a game played on Aug. 21 in the Forest Park Recreation Center.
The Angels led 31-30 at the half but outscored the Lady Monarchs 40-21 in the third period to grab a 20-point cushion.
The Lady Monarchs won the fourth quarter battle 21-13 but it would not be enough.
Angiee Tompkins scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lady Monarchs.
She also dished out four assists and had two steals.
TaQuandra Mike added 14 points, five rebounds and three steals.
Pie Jackson (11) and Naqaiyyah Teague (10) also scored in double figures in a losing effort.
The Lady Monarchs trailed 15-13 after one quarter of play but outscored the Angels 17-16 in the second quarter to go into intermission down by one.
"We were down by 19 most of the game but we rallied late and closed our gap to 76-72," Monarchs owner and head coach Jessie Fleming said.
The Lady Monarchs game with the Florida All-Stars that was scheduled for Aug. 28 was declared a forfeit win for the Lady Monarchs which improved them to 3-4.
Despite their record, Fleming said his team is still a work in progress and not to count them out.
"We haven't had a full practice together since 2019. We are gonna have to buy in a little more on the defensive side and execute on the offensive side and play the game for four quarters and not just one remembering how to close teams out. We are right there now you just don't know when that light switch is on go. We should be alright."
The Lady Monarchs will also have to adjust to playing without Tompkins.
"She signed a contract to play in Hungary and will be flying out on August 30," Fleming stated.
During the last four contests, Tompkins has averaged 22.2 points a game.
The team will hit the road for games at the Carolina Upstate Thunder on Sept. 11 and Montgomery Lady Magic on Sept. 18 before returning home for their regular season finale against the Tri City Blackhawks on Sept. 25 at the Faith Baptist Gym at 2 p.m.
