Spartans Take Down McNeese State in OT, 75-70
NORFOLK, Va. - Sophomore Batavia Owens hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left in regulation then added six points in overtime to lead the Norfolk State women's basketball team to a 75-70 win over McNeese State Saturday afternoon at Joseph Echols Hall.
The Spartans led for most of the first half, but the Cowgirls rallied in the second half after being down by as much as 11. After McNeese State (6-4) took a two-point lead with 24 seconds to go, Owens got fouled on the ensuing possession and sank both free throws with 12.3 seconds to go.
NSU, which improved to 5-3 on the season, sank all seven free throws in overtime, including four by junior Whitney Long with less than 20 seconds left in the extra session. Owens hit a trio of baskets down low, and a three-point play by junior Tyisha Bridges helped NSU pull ahead of the Cowgirls with just over two minutes left.
Long led all players with 22 points, her second straight game with more than 20, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point line. Long was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, all in the extra session. Junior Sarah Daily totaled 15 points, including three 3-pointers, while Owens added 12 points and five boards.
Sophomore Marian Brooks had nine points and led the Spartans with eight rebounds, while sophomore Recca Trice posted four assists. NSU led in rebounds, 41-37, for the game.
NSU equaled its number of wins from the previous two seasons combined with the victory.
McNeese State was led by Ashlyn Baggett with 20 points, and Caitlyn Baggett, who added 13 points and six assists. Ja'Niqua Kendrix had a team-high eight rebounds with nine points.
NSU caught fire in the first half, hitting over 50 percent on the way to a 47.3 percent shooting clip for the night on 26-of-55 shooting. That total included a 7-of-11 effort from beyond the arc.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Lady Eagles Upset Defending Big South Champion Liberty, 50-48
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University sophomore Chasidy Williams scored a season-high 18 points to slide her fellow Lady Eagles past the three-time defending Big South champion Liberty University Lady Flames 50-48 on Saturday, Dec. 18 in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
NCCU stunned the winners of 12 of the last 13 Big South titles to snap its seven-game losing skid. The Lady Eagles' victory also breaks Liberty's 29-game win streak against MEAC opponents during the past 14 years, dating back to Feb. 1996.
Lady Eagles' senior leader Jori Nwachukwu scored seven points in the win, but no point was more important than her two-pointer at the 3:24 to regain the lead and lay the foundation for the victory.
Williams sank two more free throws to extend the NCCU lead to 46-42 before Nwachukwu fouled out of the contest at the 1:39 mark, leaving the rookie Jenkins to step up in her place, and she did just that. The 6-foot forward hit a put-back layup with 1:09 to go and supplied the screen for Williams to sink an easy layup with just 29 seconds left to give the Lady Eagles a three-point advantage at 50-47.
Following a timeout, the Lady Flames missed a long range try, but 6-foot-3 center Avery Warley grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled with 12 seconds left. After making the first free throw, Liberty gained the offensive rebound, but missed on a three-point attempt, as Jenkins came away with the rebound for NCCU.
Jenkins was sent to the foul line with just five ticks on the clock and a chance to seal the victory. However, she missed the front end of the one-and-one to give Liberty one more chance to steal the game away from the home team.
A last-second shot from just beyond the arch by Liberty senior guard Dymond Morgan hit the rim as the buzzer sounded and fell to the floor as the Lady Eagles celebrated the upset victory.
Williams, named the New York Life Player of the Game, shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe, while adding a team-best seven rebounds off the bench to spark the NCCU win.
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Big Second-Half Run Leads Towson Past UMES, 61-50
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Towson started the second half with a 25-6 run to break open a two-point game at halftime and defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, 61-50, at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center Saturday.
Towson (5-4) led at the break, 28-26, and extended its advantage to 53-32 over the first 8:02 of the second half before UMES closed to within nine points at 56-48 over 1:44 but got no closer.
Krystal Parnell led three Towson players in double figures with 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the win while UMES' Kwinnyata Mercer tallied a game-high 21 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3-point range off the bench in a losing effort. Chena Parker just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds for UMES (2-6).
Towson outrebounded, 45-28, leading to a 15-7 margin in second-chance points.
The Tigers scored 14 of the game's first 15 points in four minutes. Simona Petronyte drained consecutive 3-pointers to cap the run. The Lady Hawks then rallied to make it a 22-16 game in more than eight minutes. Mercer had eight points in the stretch, including a fastbreak layup off a steal with 7:58 left. A Deree Fooks layup temporarily halted the run but LaKendra Wilkerson and Bria Jackson each hit jumpers to pull UMES within two at the half.
The Tigers held UMES without a field goal for 6:28 of the second half to lead 47-29 before Mercer knocked down another trifecta. Mercer later hit back-to-back threes with 4:05 remaining to make it a workable 55-45 game but the Lady Hawks got no closer than eight.
Towson shot 42 percent from the floor (21-for-50) and held UMES to 38 percent (18-for-47).
Sheree Ledbetter and Dovile Miliauskaite each had 11 points for the Tigers.
The UMES bench outscored Towson's, 35-17.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
UMKC Outlasts B-CU Women in Throwdown at Osprey Holiday Classic
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Lady Wildcats found some challenges playing without starting guard Demetria Frank, but they found a way to bounce back from an early deficit, and earn a lead in the second half by playing solid defense. Fighting against 22 fouls called in the game, a much greater challenge when they translate to 30 second-half free throws. The Lady Wildcats almost overcame both pulling close with just under three minutes remaining, but UMKC was able to outlast B-CU with key free throws, winning 60-51.
Without Frank in the backcourt, the Lady Wildcats struggled to get going on offense early on, and had problems stopping the Kangaroos with their top defender out, as UMKC raced out to a 10-1 lead in just under five minutes. Once Jasmine Elum dropped her first three-pointer at 14:57, the Lady Wildcats started to make moves, keeping the margin even until late in the half. As halftime drew closer, the B-CU defense locked down and the offense started to pick up momentum. B-CU held UMKC for the final 5:28 of the half without a score, and scored themselves on four straight possessions to close the half down 28-24.
The Lady Wildcats made the first strike coming out of the locker room; a Jasmine Daniels three that brought the margin to just one point. UMKC created a little breathing room, but couldn't get too far away from B-CU, as the Lady Wildcats took a lead at 11:30 remaining, on another Elum three. That's where the impact of free throws began to set in, as four straight possessions resulted in UMKC free throws or a field goal, ending on an intentional foul called against B-CU, reclaiming a seven-point lead.
B-CU gained solid leadership from their newest players; both have only played three games now in this season. Jasmine Elum topped the Lady Wildcats in scoring with16 points, including three from the perimeter and 5-of-8 from the free throw line. Cleniece Roberts also scored in double-figures with 12 points, 8 of which came from the free throw line; Roberts also topped the team on the boards, grabbing 9 rebounds.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com