Final Game Statistics
DAYTON BEACH, Fla. - The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central hit the Daytona Beach, Fla., hardwood looking to obtain its first road win of the 2010-11 campaign on Monday, Feb. 28. But Bethune-Cookman rejected the idea of a home loss, defeating NCCU 66-60 in an overtime battle.
The mighty maroon appeared to have the contest sealed, until the Lady Wildcats chiseled away at a first-half 13-point lead and tied the contest at the 8:58 mark of the second-half.
B-CU’s Jasmine Elum opened the final 20 minutes of play with a three-point shot, bringing the opening half lead to a single-digit margin. Sarah Bolden followed with a two-pointer, nailing the first five-points of half.
The two teams went point-for-point heading down the final stretch of the game, until junior Blaire Houston hit the charity stripe with four seconds left on the clock. With two shots in the palm of her hand, Houston sank the first shot for the tie and missed the second shot for a score of 53-53, sending the contest into overtime.
NCCU commenced overtime with three consecutive free throws. The Florida host quickly answered back with a behind the arc shot from Jasmine Bug, tying the contest for the 12th time, with a score of 56-56.
At the 3:17 mark, Bethune-Cookman went on 6-2 run to clinching the home victory, 66-60.
The Lady Eagles built an early first-half 13-point lead, following a 6-17 run at the 11:29 mark initiated by a jumper by senior Shanise Blanks.
Snapping the nine-minute lead, Lady Wildcat’s Clenice Roberts, who finished with nine points, scored a basket at the 3:58 mark, closing to margin to 11 points. Roberts’ shot set the host team on a short 7-6 run to end the half with the Lady Eagles leading by 10 points, 33-23.
Sophomore J’Mia Pollock was one of four NCCU student-athletes to score in double-figures. The forward, who finished with 10 points, was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Senior Jori Nwachukwu obtained her 14th double-double of the season, pouring in 15 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Sophomore Chasidy Williams scored 14 points, going 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. Blanks, sinked two three-point baskets finishing up with 10 points.
Collectively, the maroon and grey netted 71 percent from the free-throw line, 36 percent from the field and 23 percent from the long range. NCCU seized 43 boards, blocked five shots and forced 18 B-CU turnovers.
Elum, who scored three momentum changing three-pointers for the Lady Wildcats, led with 18 points. Bolden followed with 13 points, while Amanda Hairston rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.
By pulling down 45 rebounds, blocking seven shots and forcing 23 NCCU turnovers, Bethun-Cookman obtains its 13th win of the season. As a unit, the host team went 55 percent from the three-point arc, 44 percent from the free-throw line and 39 percent from the field.
Entering their final contest of the season, NCCU drops to 5-25 this season.
The maroon and grey conclude the season on Thursday, March 3 welcoming South Carolina State University at 5:30 p.m. Following the game, seniors Nwachukwu, Blanks and Sheresa Mills will be honored for four years of dedication to the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team.
For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
