Feb. 29, 2007

Final Stats

Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP) - Tristan McCray wants the ball in her possession in clutch situations. Francis Simmons, her coach, likes her to have it, as well.

Both got their wish in a very tense setting Monday night at the Ocean Center, and that formula spelled success for Bethune-Cookman. McCray came through with a clutch three-point play near the end as the Wildcats nipped Maryland-Eastern Shore, 47-46, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

"I knew we were down two points (46-44) in the last minute and needed to make something positive happen," McCray said. "My teammates got me the ball, and I just keep thinking, 'make the play, make it happen.' "

From the wing she drove toward the baseline, and as she lofted a shot from about eight feet, she drew a foul. The ball fell through the hoop to tie the score at 46, and McCray went to the foul line with 24 seconds remaining.

"Again, all I could think about during the free throw was, 'make it count,' " the 5-8 senior from Gainesville said.

She hit it, giving B-CC (4-22, 2-13) its first lead since early in the second half.

"Give our in-bounds defense some credit, too," said Simmons after his club halted a 12-game losing skid. "Sabrina (Boykin) intercepted a pass at half-court, or we would not have had that opportunity."

After McCray's three points produced a 47-46 lead, there was still the matter of 24 seconds on the clock.

The visiting Lady Hawks (11-15, 7-7) worked the ball into the corner to Candyce Jeter, who lofted an unsuccessful 3-pointer. But teammate Qiana Cheatham rebounded and called time out for the Hawks with nine seconds to play.

Jeter tried another shot with three seconds left, but it bounced off the rim a couple of times and was quickly ushered out of bounds by B-CC players as the buzzer sounded.

Fittingly, McCray finished as the game's top scorer with 16 points. She also shared the game's rebounding honors, with seven. She contributed two assists and two steals.

The Wildcats, who led much of the first half before settling for a tie at 22, pushed to a four-point edge, 28-24, with 16:37 to play.