Jan. 24, 2012

Box Score / Post-Game Interview Video

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – One missed opportunity after another made this 47-43 loss to Maryland Eastern Shore an entire missed opportunity for Bethune-Cookman Monday night.

Despite going the final 8:19 without a field goal, the Lady Wildcats had chances to tie or take the lead down the stretch, but couldn't capitalize and saw a two-game winning streak stopped.

B-CU (6-13 overall, 3-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) closed to 40-39 on two Whitney King free throws with 3:29 left and 45-43 on two Cleniece Roberts free throws with 1:01 left, but the night ended with the Lady Wildcats coming up empty on two possession in the final minute.

“We didn't take a great opportunity and maximize the potential,” said B-CU coach Vanessa Blair. “We'd get the steal, but then we'd miss a lay-up or free throws. We shot 19 percent in the second half. It's tough to win any game like that.”

Trailing 23-21 at halftime, B-CU scored the first five points of the second half for a 26-23 lead on a Jasmine Elum three-pointer. Later in the half, B-CU took a 33-29 lead when Roberts scored five straight points.

UMES (5-11,3-2) scored the next eight points. B-CU closed to 37-36 on a Demetria Frank three-point play with 8:19 left that would be the Lady Wildcats' final field goal of the game.

Frank had 11 points and seven rebounds to lead B-CU, while Roberts had ten points and five boards. Elum scored nine.

King, who had approximately 60 family and friends from her nearby hometown of Pocomoke, Md., in the stands, scored seven.

B-CU travels to FAMU Saturday.