Jan. 8, 2011

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NORFOLK, Va. - The Lady Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman women's basketball played a solid game against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Norfolk State, but far from a complete game. The Wildcats claimed the lead early in the game and built it throughout, even building it to 17 in the midst of the second half. A scoring drought of four minutes and costly turnovers made it a bit too close for comfort, as B-CU fought off a final rally in the closing seconds to defeat the Spartans, 52-50.

"I thought our young ladies came out and played with poise," said Head Coach Vanessa Blair, "a lot of hard work and a lot of effort. They stayed together and we were very effective and efficient in the sets that we ran at times. I have to commend them on a very good game."

The Lady Wildcats showed that they came to play, taking the tip into a fast-break layup just four seconds into the game. B-CU put the next seven points on the board, broken up by NSU's first field goal at 15:09. It remained a one-possession game through the midpoint of the half, but B-CU took off just under seven minutes into a 9-0 run to create some breathing room. Missed front ends on two one-and-ones took away some opportunities for B-CU, as the difference crept to 24-19 by half.

Though the defense was a heavy influence of the first half, the Lady Wildcats' defense held strong as the second period opened, and the floodgates opened on B-CU's scoring attack. In the first ten minutes of the second, B-CU outscored NSU 21-9 to take a commanding 17-point lead.

With just over nine minutes remaining, the Lady Wildcat scoring machine ran out of gas...for over four minutes, as the Spartans battled their way back into the game. Unforced turnovers played a substantial role in the momentum swing, as NSU collected several back-to-back scores, whittling the lead down to just four points, before a Sarah Bolden grabbed the crucial defensive rebound with four seconds remaining.

"I just think that our girls got complacent. This is a team that's been in and out of starting lineups, still trying to find themselves, and to be up 17, it kind of jumped to their heads too quickly. We let their [NSU's] non-aggressive pressure take us out of our game."

Rebounds had been a crucial stat for the Lady Wildcats all night, while B-CU outrebounded the Spartans 36-30, but thrived off 25 defensive boards, collecting 13 second-chance points. Turnovers were a key both halves, but in opposite directions. In the first, B-CU committed only five turnovers to NSU's 13...but 17 Lady Wildcat turnovers in the second made a big impact, including 13 points off turnovers.

Typically playing with a limited roster due to injuries, tonight's bench was the shortest of the season, at eight; as yet another guard was unable to make the trip. However, the ladies overcame the challenge, showing great guard play most of the night, including five steals, 14 rebounds, and 36 points between the four of them.

Sarah Bolden notched 10 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks. Leading on the boards, Cleniece Roberts topped all rebounders with eight boards.

The Lady Wildcats move to 7-6 and 1-1 in MEAC play, continue their road trek tonight, as they look to beat out an incoming storm en route to Greensboro, N.C. to face perennial MEAC power North Carolina A&T, fresh off a four-point victory over Florida A&M. 

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