Complete Game Statistics
TALLAHASSE, FLA.- (NCCUEaglePride.com) - Back on Jan. 29, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University dropped a buzzer beating contest to the Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M University. On Saturday, Feb. 26 NCCU entered the Lawson Center looking to get that game back and win their first game away from home this season, but despite senior forward Jori Nwachukwu’s game-high 28 points the Lady Eagles fell short dropping a 59-58 heartbreaker.
The Lady Rattlers built an early seven point lead (15-8) following a Jasmine Grice jumper with 10:39 left, but head coach Joli Robinson’s squad responded with a 20-12 run over the next eight minutes, including a 7-0 burst to take a 28-27 lead after junior Blaire Houston’s layup with 2:13 left in the first frame.
After a Temeka McKelton jumper that gave the Rattlers the lead back with 1:03 left, Houston’s fast break layup with 23 seconds left gave the Lady Eagles the one point edge heading into the locker room. Nwachukwu went 8-for-11 in the first half to pace NCCU with 18 points, while Houston finished with six points as just the Lady Eagles outscored FAMU 24-2 in the paint.
The second half seemed to show that the day belonged to NCCU, but every time the maroon and grey would get a lead, Florida A&M would answer.
FAMU and NCCU were tied at 38 with 15:16 left when the Lady Eagles went on an 8-2 run to stretch its lead to 46-40 with 11:22 remaining and even added to the lead at 51-44 following Sierra Solomon’s three pointer with 8:29 left, but the Lady Rattlers answered back tying the game at 53 with 4:37 left.
Over the final four minutes the contest went back-and-forth, but Shekeira Copeland’s layup with 2:00 remaining put FAMU up 57-55, a lead that the Lady Rattlers would never relinquish.
Florida A&M never lost the lead simply because NCCU missed its quality chances down the stretch. Houston made just one-of-two free throw attempts with 1:39 left as the Lady Eagles trailed by one at 57-56 and senior shooting guard Shanise Blanks missed a runner from the elbow with 23 seconds left.
Trailing by three with 15 seconds left, Houston hit a jumper from the free throw line with 1.6 seconds left, and the Lady Rattlers were able to inbound the basketball and run out the clock, completing the season sweep over NCCU.
Nwachukwu also contributed eight rebounds and three blocks in the loss while Houston finished with 13 points by going 5-for-8 from the field. As a team the Lady Eagles had just nine turnovers and outscored FAMU in the paint 36-18.
NCCU (5-23) look to get back on track as the Lady Eagles head to Daytona Beach, Fla. to take on Bethune-Cookman on Monday evening, Feb. 28 at 5:30 at the Ocean Center.
Stay up-to-date with NCCU Athletics by logging onto www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of the North Carolina Central University Athletics Department.
