BOX SCORE
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) The Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs solidified a spot in the 2010 CIAA Tournament Women’s Championship after beating Elizabeth City State University with a final score of 69-51 in semi-final action this afternoon. Fayetteville State University awaits the Lady Bulldogs after toppling the top seeded Lady Trojans from Virginia State University.
Bowie State took control early in the game, jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. They spread their lead to 15-4 around the 15:00 mark when
Flodysha Peterson (Cambridge, MD, Cambridge South Dorchester, Garrett C.C.) hit a bucket under the basket. The momentum began to shift to the Lady Vikings side after back-to-back three balls from Shaquella Johnson and Kenyatta Gill. Their three pointers cut the Lady Bulldog lead to 20-19 with just over six minutes to play in the game.
Gill tied the game after converting a three point play at the 4:20 mark of the first half. Elizabeth City State then forced back to back turnovers and took their first lead of the game at 25-22 when Kearah Jeffreys drained a three pointer on the other end of the court.
Joyce Freeman spread the lead for the Lady Vikings to 28-24 after draining a three pointer with 2:40 to play in the first half. Bowie State bounced back with back to back buckets for a 29-28 lead. But the Lady Vikings hot hand would continue when Johnson hit yet another three ball for her team and a 31-29 lead. Senior
Denita Hill (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) hit a floater at the top of the key for Bowie State to knot the game at 31-31 at the
halftime break.
The Lady Vikings hit for six three pointers in the first half with Johnson getting 11 first half points to lead her team. BSU junior
Lakisha Walker (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) hit for a first half high of 13 points.
Both teams scored on back to back possessions to open the second half but Freeman’s three pointer gave the Lady Vikings a one point edge at 36-35. The tide started to turn for the Lady Bulldogs after sophomore
Juliette Turner (Silver Spring, MD, John F. Kennedy) converted a three point play at the 16:00 mark. They went on a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes to take charge of the game at 51-38. The Lady Bulldogs kept that double digit lead for the remainder of the game, winning with a final score of 69-51.
The Lady Bulldogs shot 39% (22-57) in the game and took advantage of their time at the charity stripe with 23 made free throws. The Lady Vikings suffered 25 turnovers in which Bowie State turned into 27 points. Three Lady Bulldogs notched double digit nights with Walker getting 19 points. Walker and senior
Bianca Lee (Temple Hills, MD, Archbishop Carroll) scored a game-high 18 points apiece and Turner added 15 to pace Bowie State.
For Elizabeth City State, Kenyatta Gill scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Shaquella Johnson scored 11 points as the only other Lady Viking in double digits.
Bowie State improves their overall record 18-7 while Elizabeth City State’s season comes to an end at 19-10.