Dec. 1, 2009

Final Stats

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Despite career performances from several Lady Eagle student-athletes, South Carolina State University (3-3) managed to come out on top, defeating North Carolina Central University (0-6), 81-75, in an overtime thriller at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center in Orangeburg.

It was a game of many first for NCCU, including their first overtime battle of the season. The Lady Eagles had four student-athletes score in double-figures for the first time this season, while several others put on career performances in other categories.

Joanna Miller notched her first double-double of the season and the first double-double of the season for the Lady Eagles with 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead NCCU in both categories. Miller has scored in double-digits in 5-of-6 games this season, including four consecutive 20-point performances.

Senior Latoya Bennett put on a career performance, scoring a career-high 18 points off an 8-for-14 shooting outing. Guards Danielle DeBerry and Shanise Blanks each totaled 13 points. DeBerry, who tied her season-high in points, grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and dished a career-high seven assists, while Blanks was one-point shy of tying her career performance of 14 points.

Another Lady Eagle who put in some key minutes for NCCU was Katrice Elliott, who had her best performance of the season. Elliott recorded six points and three rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

The Lady Eagles shot an impressive 41.4 percent from the field, their second best outing of the season, while hammering a season-high seven 3-pointers, shooting 30 percent. The Lady Eagles struggled down the stretch from the charity stripe, but finished the night with a 62.5 percent performance.

NCCU's 75 points is the most points scored by the Lady Eagles this season, but it wasn't easy. South Carolina State led by as many as 11at the 9:39 mark in the first half, but NCCU managed to chip away getting within two before a Lady Bulldog basket at the nine second mark put South Carolina State up by four going into the break.

The Lady Eagles, who didn't lead or tie the entire first half, came out of halftime as a different team. Miller came out of intermission with a mission, hitting a quick three ball 26 seconds into the half, putting the Lady Eagles within one. The first tie of the game came at the 12:23 mark after Blanks nailed a jumper from the corner.

Shortly after, the Lady Eagles earned their first lead of the game with a layup by Elliott from the hands of DeBerry at the 10:22 mark, which put NCCU ahead, 57-55. Both teams continued to battle with four more tie scores and three lead changes.

At the 6:06 mark, NCCU went on a 7-1 run, which gave the Lady Eagles a promising lead, up 65-60 with 3:38 left in regulation. Five consecutive points tied the game at 65 as South Carolina State's Joi Walker hit a jumper from the right side to put the Lady Bulldogs up, 67-65 with 50 seconds to play. NCCU answered back with a tip-in off an offensive board by Bennett at the 00:29 mark to tie the game and force overtime.

Unfortunately, overtime was not the Lady Eagles' friend, belonging solely to the Lady Bulldogs as NCCU struggled to get points on the board. South Carolina State hit the first four points in overtime, going up 71-67. NCCU managed to get within two, but South Carolina State went on an 8-3 run to lead by as many as seven with 20 seconds left on the clock.

DeBerry nailed a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to put the Lady Eagles within four, but unfortunately, they ran out of time as the Lady Bulldogs sealed the deal with a last minute bucket to take an 81-75 win.

NCCU forced South Carolina State to turn the ball over 19 times and outscored them in the paint by a 10-point margin. The Lady Eagles capitalized on the Lady Bulldogs' mistakes, scoring 17 of their points off of turnovers. South Carolina State out-rebounded NCCU by three, 35-32, and had four more blocks.

South Carolina State had three student-athletes score in double-figures, riding the back of sharpshooter Sophilia Hipps, who scored a game-high 28 points with 15 coming from behind the arc. Walker added 14 points, followed by Paris Alston with 10.

The Lady Bulldogs shot a blistering 57.7 percent from the field and hammered 50 percent of their shots from long range, making it difficult for the Lady Eagles to defend. South Carolina State missed only four shots from the charity stripe, shooting 77.8 percent.

NCCU remains winless on the season, dropping to 0-5, while South Carolina State improves to an even 3-3 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs improve to 5-1 overall against NCCU with the Lady Eagles still winless in Orangeburg. South Carolina State and NCCU will meet again on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym.

The Lady Eagles will return to action this weekend when they head to Blacksburg, Va., to face ACC-member Virginia Tech on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. NCCU and Virginia Tech will meet for the first time this season and for the second time in program history. The Hokies have the advantage in the series, claiming a 0-1 lead.

For more information on Lady Eagle basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.