Feb. 8, 2007

Final Stats

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Bethune-Cookman College was unable to break their losing skid on Wednesday night as they ventured out of conference play and fell by a score of 49-44 to future MEAC member Winston-Salem State University at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The characters were the same for B-CC (4-18) as Tristan McCray led the team in rebounding and junior forward Natasha Ferguson led the squad in scoring. The story, however, remained the same as well as the `Cats fought hard, but came up just short.

The `Cats led for most of the first half as they ran out to a quick 10-3 advantage with the help of Natasha Ferguson and Cassandra Calcagno. WSSU (7-20) used the same thorn that stuck B-CC just under two months ago once again in the form of Richea Harris. Harris' jumper from the baseline with 8:49 left in the half put the Rams up 19-18 for their first lead of the game.

It would not be their last.

B-CC regained the lead when Traci Fountain sank two free throws moments later, but when Keoshia Worthy sank back-to-back free throws at the 5:53 mark of the first half, the run was about to begin for WSSU.

WSSU led by six at the half holding a 33-27 advantage as Shalonda Carter connected on a driving lay-up on a pass from Kadina Baldwin to keep the Rams on top after 20 minutes of play.

In the second half, it was much of the same play for one side ... that side being WSSU.

The Rams jumped out to a quick 10-2 run to start the half in order to push their lead out to double digits for the first time on the night, 43-29. B-CC cut it down to 45-37 as Monique Bassett connected on a jumper from the left side with 9:51 left in the contest.

The Wildcats cut the lead down to four points at 48-44 with 2:44 left in the game when Ferguson connected on another jumper with the assist coming from McCray, but that would be the last time B-CC would score in the game. The scoring droughts that have plagued the `Cats all season hit again as the well was dry for the last part of the game. In fact, the `Cats missed their last three shots from the floor, including a jumper from McCray that would have cut the deficit to three with 13 seconds left.

WSSU was paced on the night in the scoring column by Lavontay Johnson with 15 points. Meanwhile, Carter did all the board work by picking up 15 rebounds--all defensive. Three other Rams scored eight points, including Carter.

Bethune-Cookman was led by Ferguson's 12 points, and the rebounding efforts of McCray with 10 points and nine boards. Traci Fountain pitched in nine (9) points of her own.

With the loss, the `Cats were swept by WSSU in their first-ever home-and-home series, and fell for the ninth consecutive time this season. The Wildcats have now lost 14 of their last 16 games. The nine straight losses matches the most in the Francis Simmons era at B-CC, tying last year's nine-game losing skid from Jan. 7, 2006 through Feb. 6 when they upset Morgan State in overtime on the road.

B-CC will have little time to dwell on this loss as they prepare for North Carolina A&T on Saturday when they venture into the hallowed grounds of the Corbett Center for a 2 p.m. tip-off on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.