FIU edges Lady Rattlers, 70-69
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Finda Mansare nailed a jumper for Florida International with six seconds left in the game to give the Panthers a 70-69 win over the Florida A&M Women's Basketball team Wednesday afternoon at the Al Lawson Center.
The Panthers took a 68-64 lead on a pair of free throws by Jerica Coley with 1:41 to go in the game.
FAMU regained the lead as Kimberly Sparkman scored the next five points for the Lady Rattlers as she as she made a layup with 48 seconds left, followed by a three pointer with 21 seconds left in the game, giving FAMU a 69-68 lead.
The Lady Rattlers opened the first half with a 6-4 lead on a made free throw by Keturah Martin.
FIU would tie the game at 6-6 as this would be the first of 10 ties in the game on a pair of free throws by Marita Davydova with 15:59 to go in the first.
Then FIU would extend their lead to 16-12 on a three pointer by Zsofia Labady at the 11:56 mark of the half, capping an 8-3 run by the Panthers.
FAMU would regain the lead as they went on 10-4 run, giving them a 22-20 lead, capped off by Sparkman layup with 8:51 left in the first.
The Lady Rattlers would then close out the half with a 15-8 run as Cristal Lirano scored FAMU final two point of the half on a pair of free throws with one second left in the game.
In the final 11 minutes, the lead would change times four times as FIU held on for the 70-69 win.
FAMU (3-10) was paced by both Grice and Sparkman as they both combined for 28 points with Sparkman scoring a team high 28 points, and Grice chipping in 20 points. Martin led the Lady Rattles on the board with five.
FIU (8-5) had three Panthers to score in double figures as Coley scored a game high 35 points to lead all scorers, followed by Davydova with a double-double as she score 11 points and pulled down 11 boards, while Mansare added 10.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com.
Lady Pirates Beat Back Eagles Rally For Home Win
HAMPTON, Va. - The Hampton University women's basketball team withstood a late rally from Boston College Wednesday night at the HU Convocation Center, emerging with a 60-57 win.
The Lady Pirates (10-5) are 3-0 at home this season.
Olivia Allen led the Lady Pirates with a career-high 19 points on 5-for-16 shooting and a 6-for-7 effort at the free throw line. Keiara Avant added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Nicole Hamilton had 13 points and four assists.
Nicole Boudreau hit two free throws with 22 seconds to play, cutting Hampton's lead to 58-57 and capping a 9-0 Boston College (6-6) run. But after Alexa Coulombe fouled Avant with 13 seconds left, the senior hit both free throws to put the Lady Pirates up 60-57.
Kerri Shields, who hit five 3-pointers on the night for the Eagles, tried to tie the game with a trey with six seconds left, but she missed. Boudreau also tried to tie the game as the clock ran out, but her shot also fell off the mark.
The Lady Pirates got off to a strong start, taking a 14-3 lead at the 15:59 mark of the first half after Allen converted a fast-break layup. She later drained a 3-pointer and added another fast-break layup, giving Hampton a 21-9 lead with 13:45 left in the half.
Hamilton hit a free throw at the 11:48 mark to put Hampton up 24-9.
Alyssa Bennett hit a layup at the 6:01 mark to give the Lady Pirates a 30-18 lead, but the Eagles fought back and cut the lead to seven, 32-25, with 28 seconds left in the half after a Kristen Doherty layup to cap a 7-2 Boston College run.
Avant hit a layup on the final play of the half, though, sending the Lady Pirates into the locker room with a 34-25 lead. Allen had 11 points at the break.
Shields led three Eagles in double figures with 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers.
For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com.
Lady Tigers Fall Short On The West Coast
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Savannah State women's basketball squad opened the 2013 portion of their season with a nonconference matchup against San Diego State in San Diego, California, Wednesday afternoon.
After a dismal first half, the Lady Tigers made a sharp run in the second half, outscoring their opponent 40-37. However, the offensive advantage was not enough for SSU as the Aztecs held on for a 72-51 win.
SSU made the cross-country trip without several of their key players. Team point's leader Ezinne Kalu suffered a knee injury in a game against the University of Florida before the holiday break. Erin Hogue and Jasmine Kirkland remained in Savannah, recovering from concussions.
Stepping up for the Lady Tigers was Blessing Uba, who led all scorers with 15 points. Andrietta Thomas followed with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jasmine Norman and Charmaine Greene each added 10 points in the loss. The game marked only the second time this season in which four players have been in double digits for the Lady Tigers.
In the first half, SSU went down by five points early, but bounced back as Greene opened the scoring for SSU with a short jumper. Uba added a good jumper moments later to cut the home teams lead to 5-4 with 16:39 to play.
The Aztecs then took control with a 21-0 run in the following 10 minutes for a 26-4 lead with 6:46 to play. Alexandria Taylor broke the Lady Tigers scoring drought at the 6:07 mark with a good free-throw.
At the half, the Aztecs held a commanding 35-11 lead. But, SSU emerged from the locker room a different team.
Thomas opened a 5-0 run for the Lady Tigers with a good free-throw. The run culminated with two good free-throws from Uba, making it 37-16. With 17:40 to play, San Diego State's Gabrielle Clark sank a 3-pointer to give the home team a 40-16 advantage.
Trailing by 25 with 13 minutes to play, Uba drilled a trey to spark an 11-2 run for the Lady Tigers. With 8:38 showing, Thomas sank a jump shot to cut the Aztecs lead to 16 points, 54-38.
In the final minutes the Aztecs maintained control, extending their lead to 23 points, 72-49, with 1:10 to play. SSU's Amber Chambers scored the final points of the game, with a put back on a missed shot from Thomas, setting the final score with 36 seconds on the clock.
The Aztecs finished with a balance scoring attacking, as five player's recorded double figures. Khristina Hunter led San Diego State with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Clark led in points with 13.
For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com.
Foul Troubles Block B-CU from Rally in Kent State Loss
KENT, Ohio - The Lady Wildcats (5-7) fell to Kent State (2-11), 73-55, Wednesday night at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. An early deficit got away from B-CU, proving insurmountable as fouls and free throws dictated the pace and outcomes of the second half.
In the first game this season outside of Florida, the Lady Wildcats had control in the opening minutes of the game. However, a scoring explosion from KSU's Trisha Krewson, who had 14 of KSU's first 16 points, created a huge momentum shift that led to a 21-2 Kent State run.
Though the Lady Wildcats were held without a field goal for over five minutes, B-CU recovered and leveled off, matching the Golden Flashes 8-8 in the final three minutes of the half, going into the locker room down 41-25.
B-CU made a strong scoring push to open the second period, narrowing the margin to nine by 13:40, but B-CU had developed serious foul trouble. B-CU worked to inch closer, but three straight KSU possessions led to converted two-shot foul situations. B-CU drew 29 total team fouls to KSU's 19 in the game.
Kent State made 17 free throws in the second half, while connecting on just seven field goals, still only outscoring B-CU 32-30 in the second period, ending the game in a 73-55 decision in favor of the Golden Flashes.
Chastity René Taylor led the Lady Wildcats in scoring for the eighth game this season, hitting double figures for the ninth time with 16, along with three steals. Amanda Hairston logged her fourth career double-double, second this season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor Houston and Kayla Crawford each logged seven points.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com.