March 3, 2007

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University was unable to give its seniors the best of present of all on Saturday as they fell to rival Florida A&M University by a score of 71-55 at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Trailing 34-20 at the break, Bethune-Cookman (5-24, 2-16 MEAC) cut the lead down to six points at 36-30 as the `Cats started the half on a 10-2 run. Cassandra Calcagno's free throws allowed the Wildcats to claw back into the contest.

FAMU's (14-15, 10-8 MEAC) Joslyne Jackson nailed a three-pointer on a pass from Marke Freeman to put the visiting Lady Rattlers back up by double-digits at 46-34 with 12:52 remaining in the game.

When the Lady Rattlers' Secrett Anderson scored on a lay-up with 7:47 left to put FAMU up 53-40, the Wildcats of B-CU would never get the lead down into single points again.

"We just didn't have any intensity in the second half, and the turnovers and missed opportunities really killed us," admitted B-CU head coach Francis Simmons. "We are going to have to play better next week if we want a shot at winning the MEAC Tournament."

Calcagno did all she could to keep the `Cats in the game as she gave her best "Senior Day effort", but the rest of the team was not to be found as FAMU used a variety of people to assure themselves the win. Marke Freeman hit a jumper and Denise Tate aided with two timely free throws to put the Lady Rattlers up 63-46 with under three minutes to play.

FAMU was led by Freeman with a game-high 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. Behind her with double figures in scoring was Joslyne Jackson with 12 points of her own.

The Wildcats of B-CU were led by Cassandra Calcagno with 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Junior forward Natasha Ferguson also added 10 points and seven rebounds for the `Cats in a losing effort. Bethune-Cookman has now won less than six regular-season wins in each year of the Simmons era with the `Cats. This is the first season B-CU will be ranked 11th heading into the MEAC Tournament in over five years.

B-CU said good-bye to a special group of seniors today as Cassandra Calcagno, Sabrina Boykin, Tristan McCray and center Danetta Simpson. McCray was the only Wildcat not to be a four-year starter for the B-CU as she transferred from Central Florida C.C. just over two years ago.

B-CU will now be seeded at the #11 position going into next week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. They will be taking on Florida A&M (#6) on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the RBC Center.

For more information on the MEAC Tournament, please locate your internet browser to www.MEAChoops.com. The MEAC Tournament begins on Monday, Mar. 5 and runs through Saturday, Mar. 10.