Feb. 14, 2012

Box Score / Coach Blair Post-Game Interview

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bethune-Cookman's plan Monday night was to keep Howard's Saadia Doyle and Tamoria Holmes from reaching their 17 points a game averages. Both had 18 and the Bison defeated the Lady Wildcats 58-50 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game in Burr Gymnasium.

The duo scored 23 of their combined 36 points in the second half to thwart off a Bethune-Cookman upset bid after a promising first half for B-CU.

The plan was working early.

The Lady Wildcats (7-16 overall, 4-7 MEAC) held the tandem to 13 points and the Bison overall to 35 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes as they led 27-21 at halftime. B-CU had a 26-16 lead on Demetria Frank's jumper with 2:16 to play.

“I thought we came up with a very good game plan,” said B-CU coach Vanessa Blair. Our girls came out enthused. Those two players (Doyle and Holmes) hurt us in transition.”

Howard took a 37-33 lead early in the second, but B-CU would score six unanswered points for a 39-37 lead on two Cleniece Roberts free throws with 10:43 left.

It would be the last B-CU lead. Howard (19-7,11-2) went on a 13-0 run to take control and win its sixth straight.

“Howard's the number two team in the conference,” Blair said. “Give them credit. “They did a good job down the stretch.”

Frank led B-CU with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Roberts had 8, and Sharnese Neal and Jalisa Isaac 7 apiece.

B-CU plays at South Carolina State Saturday.