Dec. 31, 2004
Spartanburg, SC - The Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University will leave the first half of their schedule, and 2004 behind with a sour taste in their mouths as WSSU let a lead slip away in the final five minutes of the game as the Spartans of USC Upstate were able to pull out an 81-78 come-from-behind win in the final game of the 2004 Allstate Insurance basketball classic on Friday in Spartanburg, SC.
USC Upstate's Toya Shuler was named Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Spartans in scoring in both Thursday and Friday's contests as she proved to be the Lady Rams' undoing on Friday evening. She finished the tournament with 32 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and five steals. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate Yakeeshia Ross, Francis Marion's Jennifer Howard, Winston-Salem State's Shalonda Carter, and North Carolina Central's Cassie King.
In the final game of the tournament, USC Upstate trailed by 12 points, 55-43, with 13:14 to play when the Spartans used a decisive run, sparked by the energy from Vania Redd and the play of Shuler. Shuler nailed a three-pointer to start a 21-2 run. After Tonda Motley answered Shuler's trey, USC Upstate went on an 18-0 run to pull ahead 64-57 with 6:24 to play. Redd hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 57-54 during the run, then Stephanie Feyes added a three-pointer to tie the game at 57-57.
Shuler's layup and then back-to-back baskets by Keoshia Worthy, along with a converted free throw on her second basket, gave USC Upstate the 64-57 lead. Latoya Armstrong ended the USC Upstate run with a jumper with 6:20 to play in the game.
After USC Upstate increased its lead to eight, 67-59, with 5:21 remaining, Winston-Salem State used intense pressure to go on a 5-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the Spartans lead to 67-64. USC Upstate pushed the lead to six points three times over the next two minutes before Armstrong's three-pointer cut the USC Upstate lead to 77-76 with 37 seconds to play.
|
|
 |
After breaking the Lady Rams press, USC Upstate settled into its offense and Feyes nailed a three-pointer with 20 seconds to go to give the Spartans a four-point lead, 80-76. Nikki Eason made a jumper with 11 seconds to play to cut the USC Upstate lead to two, but Shuler made one-of-two free throws to seal the win. Eason's desperation three-pointer fell short at the buzzer and the Spartans were able to sneak out the win.
Shuler finished with a game-high 19 points to pace the Spartans. She also added five assists and five steals. Ross finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Worthy added 15 points and four assists. Redd tallied 10 points with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Feyes was solid with 11 points and two assists. With three three-pointers on the night, Feyes now has 150 for her career and needs just four to break Paula Blackwell's career three-point school record of 153.
Winston-Salem State also placed five players in double figures, led by Armstrong and Motley with 15 each. Janet Robinson scored 14 points for the Lady Rams, while Carter and Eason added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 8-3 overall (0-0 CIAA) as they head into the new year. WSSU returns to action on January 4th, 2004 as they open CIAA league play by hosting the Lady Panthers of Virginia Union University at the CE Gaines Center at 5:30 pm.
For additional information on WSSU Women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official
