Dec. 28, 2011
Final Stats
By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One triple overtime game per season is enough. And just when it appeared that Bethune-Cookman was headed for its second in a week, Jasmine Elum helped the Lady Wildcats avoid that with a jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining for a 66-63 double overtime victory over North Florida in historic Moore Gymnasium.
The junior's 22 points also helped B-CU (2-9) snap a nine-game losing streak that includes that 3 OT barnburner to Florida Atlantic last week in the Hatter Classic and a five-point loss to Louisiana-Lafayette.
“We had to put it together,” Elum said. “ We ended it winning this one instead of another triple overtime.”
It appeared that another five minute session was in order when B-CU committed a shot clock violation. However, Demetria Frank made a steal at half court and fed to Elum, who shot in traffic near the free throw line. After a UNF turnover and foul, Sharnese Neal added an insurance free throw with 0.1 seconds left.
B-CU Head Coach Vanessa Blair credited her team's determination and perhaps some good came out of last week's loss.
“We talk a lot about will and not necessarily skill,” Blair said. “ Sometimes it comes down to our will vs. someone's else will. We continue to reiterate that. We refused to lose tonight.
“The three overtime game we went through wasn't for naught … we had a chance to get it right,” Blair added.
Frank's stat line: 16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.
“Demetria Frank was more than monumental,” Blair said. “It was a huge, huge game from a player who isn't where she needs to be [Injury-wise]. It's all about her will, her heart. Everyone came up big.”
Cleniece Roberts (14 points, seven rebounds) sent the game into overtime with a lay-up with 52 seconds remaining that tied it at 52. Elum had six points in the first OT, but UNF (4-8) extended the game on Larika Jones' that made it 58-58 with two minutes to play.
Brittany Kirkland led UNF with 22. She torched B-CU early for 15 points in the opening ten minutes, but B-CU's double-teams limited her the rest of the way.
B-CU hosts Kent State Friday before travelling to Georgia State Jan. 2.
“It's been a long road,” Blair said of going winless since opening day. “But it's been our road.”
