Jacksonville, FL--- South Carolina State lost to Jacksonville State, 59-56, on Friday, the second day of the 2009 Hampton Inn & Suites Osprey Holiday Classic.  The Classic, which was hosted by the University of North Florida, was contested at the UNF Arena.

Jacksonville State (2-8) began the game on a 15-6 run and went up by as many as 15, 27-12, with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half.  SC State (4-6) began to gradually chip away at the double-digit lead.  The Lady Bulldogs used 12-0 run to pull within three, 24-27 with two minutes remaining in the half.  Jacksonville State scored just two points in the last seven minutes as they enjoyed a four-point lead at the half, 25-29.

South Carolina State began the second-half very aggressively and scored on its first two possessions to tie the game at 29-all.  The teams exchanged baskets over the next six minutes before the Lady Bulldogs took a 39-37 lead at the 13:30 mark, their first lead since 19:47 of the first half.  South Carolina State increased its lead to 10, 49-39, with a little under eight minutes remaining in the game. 

The Gamecocks roared back and used a 16-3 run to take a three-point lead, 55-52, with one minute remaining in the game.  A layup by South Carolina State's Tiana Hemphill pulled the Lady Bulldogs within one, 55-54 before a jumper by Brittany Wiley put Jacksonville State up once again by three, 57-54.  A driving layup by Senior Sophilia Hipps pulled the Lady Bulldogs within one again, 57-56, with 5.7 seconds remaining; however two free-throws by Karisma Boykin sealed the 59-56 victory for the Gamecocks.

For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com

Big Second Half Lifts W&M Over NSU, 80-52

NORFOLK, Va. - William & Mary scored 50 points in the second half alone en route to a 80-52 win over Norfolk State on Friday night at Echols Hall. W&M (5-3) shot 50 percent (17-of-34) from the floor in the second period to score almost as many points as NSU (2-6) did for the entire game.

The Spartans took an early lead on a jumper by Whitney Long to go up 2-0 with 19:39 left in the first half. Janine Aldridge answered on the other end with a 3-pointer to put the Tribe up by one, 3-2, and Taysha Pye hit two free throws at the 16:33 mark to give W&M a lead it would maintain for the rest of the game. The Tribe took a 30-19 advantage into halftime.

NSU got within nine, 39-30, after a free throw by Raychele Payne with 13:22 left in the game. But W&M went on a 25-11 run, capped by one of two free throws by Pye, to take a 64-41 lead with 3:34 left. The Tribe went on another run (16-11) to end the game and seal the win.

Kelly Heath led all players with 16 points. Pye and Taylor Hilton each had 12 points and Tiffany Benson had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Emily Correal grabbed a game-high 11 boards.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

Charleston Southern drops B-CU Lady Wildcats on the Road, 90-72

The Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats overcome road struggles which have plagued them this season, but ultimately fell short 90-72 to Charleston Southern.

CSU led B-CU by nine at the half, and B-CU matched them score for score in the second half, but two late turnovers and six missed free throws in the final five minutes of the game allowed CSU to keep their lead in double digits as B-CU attempted to rally.

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com