Dec. 5, 2007

Final Stats

Women's Basketball: AASU 54, North Carolina Central 44

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad knocked off its first NCAA Division I foe in more than 20 years with a 54-44 victory over visiting North Carolina Central on Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena.

The Lady Pirates (5-2) placed three players in double figures, led by Lacey Willis' game-high 15 points, in keeping the Lady Eagles (0-10) winless in its first season of DI classification - North Carolina Central made the move from Division II this offseason. The win was the first for an AASU women's basketball team over a Division I foe since the Lady Pirates defeated UNC Asheville, 85-71, on January 25, 1986.

Armstrong Atlantic State held the Lady Eagles to just 26.9 shooting from the floor in the first half in building a 31-23 halftime lead. North Carolina Central got two baskets from Jori Nwachukwu to cut the lead to four, 31-27, coming out of halftime but the Pirates' Ashley Duhart and Lindsey Holmes hit back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead back to double digits, 37-27, with 17:24 remaining and the Lady Eagles could not get within eight points the rest of the way.

Senior All-America Kaneetha Gordon registered her second double-double of the season, and her first since the season opener, with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Gordon also became just the fifth player in Peach Belt Conference to record 900 rebounds and now has 909 in her career. Lindsey Holmes added 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting from three-point range as well for AASU.

North Carolina Central was led by Nwachukwu's 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Tuesday, December 18, as AASU hosts Queens (NC) in the 2007 Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Classic at 6:00 p.m. North Carolina Central opens its home schedule after 10 straight road games, hosting Elizabeth City State on Friday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lady Eagle Classic.

(Game story courtesy of Armstrong Atlantic State Sports Information)