Jan. 30, 2010

Final Stats

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -  The Lady Wildcats secured consecutive conference victories on Saturday night, as the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State visited Moore Gymnasium. The Lady Wildcats got off to a quick start, pushing out to an early double-digit lead. Opening the game, B-CU shot 52 percent from field goal range and 79 percent from the free throw line, while holding SCSU to just 31 percent. The Lady Wildcats made it 16 points by halftime and didn't let up in the second half, holding off a late SCSU rally to win the game 71-64.

From the opening tip, the Lady Wildcats came at South Carolina State strong, scoring on their first possession with just three seconds ticked off the clock on a fast break. B-CU built momentum in the half with a 9-3 run to take a significant lead early in the game. B-CU was setting up the offense well, and the shots were falling, as the Lady Wildcats shot a season's-best first half performance of 52 percent. The Lady Wildcats also went 11-14 from the free throw line in the opening period.

As the half rolled on, the Lady Wildcats built on their early lead and played stout defense against the Lady Bulldogs, holding them to just 31 percent from the field in the first half. B-CU also locked up the Lady Bulldogs' top scorer and strong rebounder, Sophilia Hipps, holding her to only two points and no rebounds on the game. The Lady Wildcats pushed their lead to double-digits in the first, building to their largest lead, of 20, with just 2:30 remaining before the half. The Lady Wildcats went into the locker room leading SCSU by 16.

The Lady Wildcats did not fare as well offensively in the second half, as SCSU found ways to make stops and create guarded shots. After having a great start on the free throw line, the Lady Wildcats began to struggle and split one-and-ones. However, the Lady Wildcats did refocus on the free throw line, especially in the crucial closing moments, hitting 7 of 8 in the final two minutes of the second half. The SCSU offense picked up in the second half, but the Lady Wildcats stood strong and kept their composure at the SCSU rally got a little too close for comfort.

In the waning moments of the second half, the Lady Bulldogs had chipped away at the B-CU lead and broke the single-digit barrier with just under two minutes on the clock. However, the Lady Wildcats focused and put away their free throws, keeping it a three-possession game. On defense, the Lady Wildcats made sure that SCSU was taking contested shots, but they were getting the ball inside and drawing fouls. As time expired, the Lady Wildcats had quelled the SCSU rally and went on to win 71-64.

Demetria Frank had an outstanding day for the Lady Wildcats, leading the team with a career-high 22 points against the Lady Bulldogs. Frank also got in the action on the glass, coming up with 6 rebounds, while also making key defensive moves, including 5 steals. Adding her steals into her career total, the Lady Wildcat junior now becomes the career steal leader in school history with 251, supplanting a 26-year old record previously held by Erma Jones (249).

Sarah Bolden also notched a scoring performance in double figures, tallying 16, while also pulling down a team-high 7 rebounds.

The team has made a great rebound from the recent heavy loss on the road to Hampton, scoring two consecutive MEAC victories. This season's squad, at 5-3 in MEAC competition, is having one of the best conference seasons since 2003-04, then under Head Coach Sandra Booker.

"This group is very resilient; they've come a long way to not let anything slip from them," said Head Coach Vanessa Inge, "and I don't believe that will be in our future again."

The Lady Wildcats continue their season 5:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 1, as they return to the Daytona Beach Ocean Center for the second time this season. In their only game their this season, B-CU fell in a close-finish matchup with Florida A&M. Monday's matchup is with Winston-Salem State (2-17) and Coach Inge is expecting to see a stronger, more experienced team on the floor from the last one that played at the Ocean Center.

On how to defeat the Lady Rams, Inge concludes, "the same way we've won this whole year, with each other, teamwork, working hard and everyone coming to play."