MOREHEAD, Ky. - Freshman Carlon Chambers sank a pair of free throws with two seconds left in overtime to give NSU a 70-69 victory over Central Arkansas Saturday afternoon in the Comfort Inn & Suites Classic at Ellis T. Johnson Arena at Morehead State.
With the Sugar Bears nursing a one-point lead with 38 seconds left after freshman Rae Corbo's free throw cut the deficit to 69-68, Central Arkansas was unable to convert on the offensive end, and the Spartans quickly went down court. Chambers got the offensive board off a miss by junior Whitney Long with seven seconds to go, but had the ball knocked away.
Chambers never gave up on the play, and when the Bears' Sidney Stewart never really got control of the ball, Chambers went diving to the floor and got fouled in the process by Stewart to go to the foul line. She calmly sank both shots from the charity stripe with 2.4 seconds to go, and the Bears could not get the ball down court as NSU held on for the win.
The victory propelled NSU to a 3-0 record for the first time since 1996-97, the Spartans' last year in Division II. The Bears fell to 1-3 on the year.
The Spartans received strong efforts by sophomores Batavia Owens and Marian Brooks, who each posted double-doubles on the night. Owens had a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Brooks added 10 points and 10 boards.
Junior Sarah Daily posted 13 points and eight rebounds, while Corbo joined them in double figures with 13 points. Long had a team-high five assists in the victory.
NSU found success under the basket, totaling 40 points in the paint as the Spartans shot 52.9 percent for the game, including 66.7 percent in the first half alone. NSU had a 44-31 advantage on the boards but had to overcome 28 turnovers.
Central Arkansas was led by reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week Megan Herbert with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Destinee Rogers scored 13. Sidney Stewart had a strong game with 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.
The Bears hit just 37.9 percent for the game but had a 12-7 advantage in steals and had just 15 turnovers. Central Arkansas, though, connected on just 12-of-25 free throws, including a pair of misses by Courtney Duever with seven seconds left in regulation and two more by Taylor Westin with 46 seconds to go in the extra period.
After a horrible showing from the free throw line Friday, the Spartans sank 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) for the game.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Howard Holds Off Loyola, 44-36
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Howard held off Loyola (0-3) 44-36 for its second straight win of the season. With the victory, the team improves to 2-2 on the season. HU will take to the road for its next six contests, beginning on Tues. Nov. 23 when it faces Jacksonville. The game is slated for 7 p.m.
In the second 20 minutes, Howard led by as many as 13 points off a Saadia Doyle layup. Doyle scored 10 straight points for the Lady Bison in the beginning of the second half.
The Greyhounds used a full court press to fuel its 9-4 run to trim the HU advantage and cut it to 38-31 at the 3:26 mark. Two more free-throws by Alyssa Sutherland at 2:41 brought Loyola to within four, 40-36, with just under three minutes left. Clutch free-throws by Cheyenne-Curley Payne down the stretch helped the HU hold off the Greyhounds.
Doyle finished with 19 points and five rebounds in 38 minutes of action. Curley-Payne had 11 points and three boards. Kara Smith chipped in with seven points while pulling down five off the glass. Portia Deterville grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
As a team, Howard shot 31.4 percent (16-for-51) from the field, while holding Loyola to just 23.4 percent (11-for-47).
For the game, the Greyhounds were paced by Nicole Krusen and Sheahin's nine points. Sheahin also added a game-high six steals.
For the complete story, visit www.howard-bison.com
UMES Falls At Mount Saint Mary's, 65-56
EMMITSBURG, Md. - Three Mount Saint Mary's players scored in double figures as the Mountaineers defeated Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team, 65-56, at Knott Arena Saturday.
Ashley Christie (14), Kayla Grossett (13) and Mary Dunn (10) paced the Mount to its first win of the season as MSM improves to 1-2. UMES (1-1) received double digits from three players as well but dropped its first road game of the season. The game was the first between the two schools since the 1990-91 season. Mount Saint Mary's moves to 7-0 all time against UMES.
Junior Amber Cook tallied 14 points and seven rebounds while senior Casey Morton had 12 and junior Kwinnyata Mercer chipped in with 10.
UMES limited MSM to just 6-of-24 shooting in the second period and shot 10-for-33 (30.3 percent) from the field itself. The Lady Hawks hit just three of their 10 free throws in the first half but rebounds to go 10-for-13 from the stripe in the second.
UMES was whistled for 29 fouls to just 18 for MSM and turned the ball over 21 times, resulting in 23 Mount points. UMES won the rebounding battle for the second straight game, 44-38.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Lady Eagles Defeat Presbyterian For First Win At The Nest
DURHAM, N.C. - The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central earned their first win of the season in a 43-38 home victory over Presbyterian College in the McDougald-McLendon Gym on Saturday evening.
Senior Jori Nwachukwu came close to her second double-double, earning 15 points, nine rebounds and blocking four Blue Hose attempted shots. Lady Eagles redshirt sophomore Chasidy Williams added to the offensive effort with 11 points and tied with Nwachukwu with nine boards.
During the first half of play, the Lady Eagles held the Blue Hose to 13-0 run until the 1:47 mark. Defensively, NCCU forced 12 Presbyterian turnovers, including three shot-clock violation turnovers.
NCCU senior Shanise Blanks and freshman Alesha Jenkins contributed to the 55 total rebounds, with seven apiece.
Junior Blaire Houston led the steals game for the Lady Eagles with four.
The Presbyterian offense was led by Taylor with nine points. Sophomores Dria David and Mariah Pietrowski followed Taylor, tying at eight points apiece. Asheville, N.C. native Chelsea Parker grabbed six rebounds for the Blue Hose.
The Lady Eagles advance their record to 1-1, while Presbyterian drops to 1-2.
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Other MEAC Scores- Recap To Follow
Morgan State 53, South Florida 51