Freeman nets season-high as NCCU tops South Carolina State
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central’s Jessica Freeman, one of two seniors honored on “Senior Day,” scored a season-high 28 points to lead the Lady Eagles to a 60-43 win over visiting South Carolina State Saturday in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Contest.
Freeman, who had all but one of NCCU’s eight second-half field goals, had 21 of her total in the final stanza. Racquel Davis, the only other Lady Eagle in double figures, added 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in the victory
The win gave the host a sweep of the series with the Lady Bulldogs this season and lifted NCCU to 10-17 on the year and 5-9 in the MEAC.
SC State, which made just 27 percent (16-59) of its field goals in the contest, was led by graduate guard Cabriel Duren with 14 points and six assists. She was the only Lady Bulldog to reach double-digit scoring in the contest. Senior Cherisha Floyd had eight points and a team-high 12 boards for SC State.
The Lady Bulldogs remain in North Carolina for a Monday MEAC doubleheader in Greensboro against North Carolina A&T, beginning at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Coppin State soars past Lady Hawks
BALTIMORE - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team was unable to even the score against Coppin State University (CSU) as they fell to the Eagles, 80-48, inside the Physical Education Complex.
With the loss, UMES dropped to 7-19 overall (3-11 MEAC) while CSU improved to 14-13 (11-4 MEAC) on the season.
Ten Lady Hawks scored in the contest, led by Jessica Long and Mariah McCoy each registering eight points in the loss.
Other notable Hawk performances included Shawnee Sweeney and Ashleigh Claybrooks each notched eight points in a losing effort.
For Coppin State, Kyra Coleman finished with a double-double, 19 points and 10 boards, while Larrisa Carter and Ashle Carter combined for 30 points in the victory.
This Monday, the Lady Hawks play their final road contest of the regular season in Norfolk, Va. where the Spartans of Norfolk State University awaits. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
Lady Hornets Sting Bison for a Overtime Victory in Home Finale
DOVER, Del. – Saturday afternoon, the Delaware State women’s basketball team (8-19, 3-12 MEAC) needed overtime to pull out an emotional 64-61 victory over the Howard Bison (10-11, 6-8 MEAC) in its final home game of the season, behind guard Raven Bankston pouring in a career-high 38 points (14-of-32) in 38 minutes of action.
For DSU, this win over HU was its first since Feb. 9, 2009, while the Bison dropped their sixth contest out of the last seven games.
Bankston scored 26 of her a career-high 38 points (14-of-32) in the second half, which is the third most in DSU single-game history. Denna Harmon tallied 14 points (5-of-13) as the only Hornet to score in double figures, to along with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Offensively, neither squad lit up from the floor as Delaware State shot 33 percent (23-of-69), while the Bison went 22-of-67 (.328).
For HU, three players scored in double figures, led by Te’Shya Heslip’s 14 points (6-of-17), while Shavonne Duckett recorded a double-double with 13 points (4-of-10) and 10 rebounds.
On the glass, the Bison out-rebounded Delaware State, 57-43.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will close out the regular this Thursday (5:30 p.m.) at UMES. Last Saturday, Delaware came away with a 65-54 win over the Hawks at Memorial Hall.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.hubison.com
Lady Pirates upend Spartans, win MEAC again
HAMPTON, Va. – Fourth verse, same as the first.
With an 83-54 win over Norfolk State Saturday evening at the HU Convocation Center, the Hampton University women’s basketball team clinched its fourth straight MEAC regular-season title – and the corresponding No. 1 seed in the MEAC Tournament (March 10-15, Norfolk Scope).
Fitting, since the Lady Pirates (24-4, 15-0 MEAC) lowered the banners celebrating last season’s championship as well.
Freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas led the festivities with 19 points, while senior forward Alyssa Bennett scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season.
Senior guard Nicole Hamilton added 18 points – including four 3-pointers in the second half – and junior guard Kenia Cole poured in 16 points.
The Lady Pirates shot 34.6 percent (27-for-78) from the floor and made 10 of their 26 3-pointers (38.5 percent). Hampton also forced Norfolk State into 21 turnovers, converting them into 22 points.
Hampton also held a 32-22 edge in points in the paint.
Norfolk State (11-14, 7-7 MEAC) shot just 23.8 percent (15-for-63) from the floor and made just two of its nine 3-pointers. The Spartans did hold a 57-52 edge in rebounding.
Logan Powell led the Spartans with 18 points.
The Lady Pirates will close the regular season on Thursday at the HU Convocation Center, celebrating Senior Night against North Carolina A&T at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Taylor’s bucket lifts Bethune-Cookman past Morgan State
BALTIMORE – Chastity Rene Taylor hit a running jumper with .5 seconds remaining as Bethune-Cookman fended off Morgan State for its third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday.
The Lady Wildcats (11-16 overall, 8-7 MEAC) saw a 17-point lead disappear, but regained enough control to post their longest winning streak of the season. This is the first time in two years B-CU has won three league games.
Morgan State (4-23, 2-12) was down 34-17 with 19:43 remaining, but managed to take a pair of one point leads on Tracey Carrington free throws and a 45-45 tie on a Dinah Jones lay-up with 1:11 to play.
After each team missed on a possession, Taylor drove the right side and hit the game-winner.
Taylor Houston led B-CU with 11 points, followed by Taylor with 10. Kendra Cooper added nine on three first-half three-pointers and senior Kiara Redmon delivered minutes – her eight points and five rebounds included a go-ahead lay-up with 1:38 to play and four first-half free throws.
Freshman Kailyn Williams had a season-high eight blocked shots, tying her with several other players for the 14th best single-game total of the season nationally in that category.
B-CU held Morgan State to 25 percent shooting in the first half and out-rebounded the Bears 29-20 as the Lady Wildcats used a 20-3 run to pull away from a 10-10 tie. B-CU led 32-17 at halftime.
The Lady Wildcats conclude the season Thursday at Florida A&M.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.morganstatebears.com