WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Lady Wildcats were knocked out of the MEAC Basketball Championships today in an emotional loss to Hampton University in the tournament semifinal. B-CU struggled to score early in the game, leaving a 16-point deficit at halftime. The Hampton advantage was too much for the Lady Wildcats to overcome, even with a solid performance in the second half. The Lady Pirates closed out B-CU, 58-38.
Still banged up and fatigued from the MEAC quarterfinal with Morgan State, the Lady Wildcats got off to a sluggish start in today's semifinal. The Lady Wildcats kept pace early struggled for several extended stretches, allowing Hampton to built a significant lead, riding the performance of first-team All-MEAC and MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Quanneisha Perry, who collected 10 points and 6 rebounds in the first half. The Lady Wildcats were able to get a surge going late in the first half, as they began to press heavily with just over three minutes remaining. However, poor shooting in the first half, costly turnovers, and stifling Lady Pirate defense limited the Lady Wildcats to only 17 points at the half, facing a 16-point Hampton lead.
"In the beginning of the game, we did not handle the pressure that Hampton came out with, and it really put us on our heels," said Head Coach Vanessa Inge. "Defensively we were allowing them to attack in the paint too much."
Bethune-Cookman played much more effectively on both ends of the court in the second half, trading shots early with the Lady Pirates, keeping the lead from expanding. Despite getting back on track offensively, B-CU could only make minor surges in bringing down the lead. The Lady Pirates lead reached as many as twenty, and the Lady Wildcats brought it as close as fourteen. On several scoring runs, B-CU found several opportunities to climb back into the game, but failed to convert. Hampton went on win, 58-38.
The Lady Wildcats shot 31 percent from the field in the loss, as Hampton held B-CU to a season low in scoring. Despite out-rebounding the Lady Pirates, the shots simply weren't falling for B-CU. Hampton forced 23 turnovers and took advantage, scoring 21 points off them. For the Lady Pirates, Quanneisha Perry built off her first half returns to lead Hampton in scoring and rebounding, collecting a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
"In the second half I thought we came out more poised on defense," said Inge, "and offensively found it difficult to make some of the easy shots we were getting."
Despite shooting well from the free throw line, the Lady Wildcats weren't given many opportunities to score points off the clock in the second half. B-CU only shot eleven free throws in the game and three in the second half. With 23 total personal fouls called in the game, the clock flowed continuously, taking its toll on the fatigued Lady Wildcats. Both teams got after it in loose-ball situation, collecting a total of eleven tie-ups in the game.
For the Lady Wildcats, Sarah Bolden came on strong in second half runs to score 10 points. In her final game in Lady Wildcat uniform, senior Euneshia Proctor led the team on the glass, collecting 8 rebounds.
Euneshia Proctor wrapped up her final season at B-CU with some marks on the record books, Proctor finished ninth in games with 93 over her career, and eighth in overall field goal percentage at .441 percent.
"I'm really going to miss playing with these girls, they were the best," said an emotional Proctor during the postgame press conference. "Coach Inge was the best coach. I just love my school, and it's tough."
The Lady Wildcats close out the 2009-10 year with one of the most successful seasons in the past 20 years. Overall, Bethune-Cookman finished 17-15, and made only the fourth appearance in the MEAC semifinal in program history. This also marked the first semifinal appearance since 1992 for Bethune-Cookman. Despite the early exit from the tournament, there is much reason for optimism for the Lady Wildcats, as they return four of five starters in the next season.
"It's just the beginning," Coach Inge notes of the progress in the program. "Like I told our ladies in the locker room, this university couldn't be prouder of them. They not only changed the program, they changed a community back in Daytona Beach."
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