Jan. 27, 2005
Charlotte, NC - In a crucial western division game at Brayboy Gymasium on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University, it was the Lady Bulls of Johnson C. Smith (17-2, 8-0 CIAA, 4-0 DIV) over the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University (10-7, 2-3 CIAA, 1-2 DIV) by the score of 73-63 as JCSU proved that they were worthy of being nationally-ranked and sitting atop of the CIAA's Western Division.
The Lady Rams opened up on a 4-0 run forcing two JCSU turnovers and forcing JCSU head coach Vanessa Taylor to call a timeout. Scoring leader, Lauren Goss (Morrow, GA) was held to just one point in the first 20 minutes of play, but would end the game with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The next few minutes of play would be a back and forth lead change before Smith then built up a 12 point lead led by the defensive efforts of Brittany Sumpter and the offensive prowess of Terri Edwards. The Lady Bulls did a good job of keeping WSSU's big weapons of Shalonda Carter and Tiffany Tonkins in foul trouble. By the end of the first half, Carter had two fouls and Tonkins three, while their team went into the locker room down by three points.
Within one minute of the second half, Goss would be fouled three times. She converted on four of eight free throws to take a five point lead with 16:33 remaining.
Fouls and free throws would be the story of the second half for the Lady Bulls and the Lady Rams. Forty-seven fouls would be committed in tonight's all-important match-up. Twenty four of Smith's 39 points came from the charity stripe, on a season high 45 attempts. Smith's first field goal did not come until 15:28 remaining in regulation.
Though WSSU never regained the lead they opened up the game with, this contest would come down to the wire. Floor general Judene Wright would foul out with 3:52 remaining in the contest. It would be up to Melanie Harrison to carry the team. She did so extremely well with the help of her skilled teammates.
|
|
 |
Senior forward Terri Edwards (Sylvester, GA) scored a season high 21 points and pulled down nine boards. Sophomore Tiana Pope (Albany, GA) scored 13 points and three steals. Brittany Sumpter (Orangeburg, SC) also scored in double figures wit h10 points and six boards.
For the Lady Rams, Janet Robinson would score lead the way with 16 points. She had help from Kadina Baldwin and Shalonda Carter who chipped in 13 and 10 points respectively. Cherena Douglass knocked down three shots in the loss.
Next up for the Lady Rams will be the Lady Bulldogs of Bowie State University on January 29th, 2005 at the C.E. Gaines Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm in Winston-Salem, NC.
