March 10, 2009
Final Stats |
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Lady Wildcats finished off the 2008-09 season Tuesday afternoon as they faced off with Howard in the MEAC Basketball Championships. After getting off to a strong start in today's game, the momentum turned against the Lady Wildcats late in the first half and the Lady Bison of Howard took control of the game, never to surrender it. Despite a season that showed clear signs of a turn-around by first-year Head Coach Vanessa Inge, the Lady Wildcats were knocked out of the conference tournament, losing to Howard, 64-43.
At the opening tip, the game went as Wildcat fans had hoped for B-CU, with the Lady Wildcats jumping out to a quick lead and handling the Lady Bison of Howard. The Lady Wildcats led by as much as seven in the first half, making it 13-6 with 11:28 remaining in the half, before Howard started to rally and climb back into the game. The Lady Bison claimed their first lead with 5:52 on the clock, finishing off the half with a 19-10 scoring run that went into halftime with Howard leading 25-23.
The Lady Bison carried that momentum into the second half, maintaining a two-possession lead through the midpoint of the second half. The Lady Wildcats found themselves in a scoring slump, upon which Howard capitalized, with B-CU only scoring 20 points in the second half, while Howard put 38 on the board to close out the game with a 20-point lead, winning 63-43 and sending B-CU home early.
Following, the game, Head Coach Vanessa Inge said, "We did not shoot as well as would have liked. The heart was there, the effort was there but we didn't play as well as we have this year." Inge continued, “My hats off to Howard. They took away some of the things we like do to in transition and with our inside players. They played well."
It was an especially down offensive day for B-CU today, shooting a well below team average of 26% from the field, and with only one player scoring in double-figures. Euneshia Proctor hit the boards and led the team in rebounds, notching 8, including 6 on defense. B-CU's usually quite active utility player, Demetria Frank, was almost shut down today, with no points on the board, with 2 steals and 5 rebounds.
Before the game, Coach Inge had talked to her players, "I told each and every player how proud I was of them and how proud the university was of them for their effort this year." Inge said, "We won more games this year that they did in two years prior to this season. This is another notch in our belt."
As noted to her players, this was a huge year in progress for Coach Inge and the Lady Wildcats, as they won an additional game over the previous two years combined, and had more road wins than the program in the same span. There is much to look forward to with this program, especially considering that Coach Inge will only graduate two players this year, with most of the roster being current sophomores. Next year, Inge will retain all starters and major contributors on top of the fruits of her first recruiting class at B-CU.
Current Players Climbing the Record Books
Personal progress was also made in this season, in the record books. Several players have made their presence felt in B-CU women's basketball, in their early careers as Lady Wildcats.
Demetria Frank moved onto and up several lists this season, moving to 10th on the season Points total (415), 2nd in season Free Throws Made, and most notably is the new B-CU season steals leader. On the career lists, Frank moved to 10th (t) in career Blocked Shots (35), 9th in career Assists (153), 6th in career Scoring Average (12.3 ppg), 5th in career Free Throws Made (224), and 5th in Career Steals (188). Although Frank is already making waves on the history books, she still has two years as a Lady Wildcat to secure her place among the B-CU elite.
Keturah Newkirk already had a place in the history books for her shooting, but finds herself a little higher with 08-09 concluded. Newkirk already secured the top spot at B-CU for 3-point Field Goals Made, but she further distanced herself, as her career mark is 201 (the number 2 position is 104). Newkirk also moved to 10th in career Field Goals Made (244), 9th in career Scoring Average (9.1 ppg), and 6th in career Free Throw Shooting Percentage (.717). Newkirk also secured the 3rd best Free Throw Shooting season mark (.853%), and matched her 06-07 mark for season 3-Point Field Goals Made to tie for 2nd.
Jalisa Isaac played strong offensively in the latter half of this season to make her own place in the record books, entering with the top current career Free Throw Percentage (.820), and also joining Newkirk as a top career 3-point shooter in the 7th spot (67). Isaac also appeared on the season lists with her 2008-09 performance, starting at 6th on 3-Point Field Goals Made (52) and 2nd in Free Throw Percentage (.828)
Sarah Bolden moved up the career lists to 6th in Field Goal Percentage (.449) and 6th in Rebound Average (6.9 rpg), while moving to 7th in career Blocked Shots (45). Bolden also appears on the top season list for Blocked Shots (28).
Although her season was cut short due to injury, Cleniece Roberts showed her effectiveness while on the court, as her current career Field Goal Shooting Percentage is the 5th best at B-CU (.450).
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