JCSU Lady Golden Bulls March On To The Regional Finals With 78-72 OT Win Over West Liberty

JCSU's CIAA BASKETBALL COACH OF YEAR,
VANESSA TAYLOR IS 2-0 IN NCAA DIVISION
II TOURNAMENT GAMES

JCSU women's basketball made history by reaching the most wins in a season 26-4, and earned the 1st two regional victories for women's basketball at JCSU after a 74-69 win over Glenville State and West Liberty University.

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball captured a 78-72 overtime victory against West Liberty University (No. 3 seed) in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday evening inside a frigid McComb Fieldhouse. JCSU improves to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday, March 14th to face 2011 CIAA Tournament Champions, No. 8 Shaw University (23-11) at 7:00 p.m. inside McComb Fieldhouse.

Junior guard Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) splashed a three pointer at the 19:13 mark for the first J.C. Smith points and lead (3-2) of the game. However, the Hilltoppers recovered quickly and displayed some dangerous outside shooting throughout the first half. West Liberty held an advantage for the remainder of the opening and led 40-32 at halftime.

JCSU shot 33% (12-36) in the first half, compared to 40.6% (13-32) shooting from West Liberty. The Hilltoppers connected on 7 of their 17 three point attempts, but were out-rebounded 27-18. Junior All-CIAA guard LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had most of the production with 10 points and seven rebounds at the break. Jones and senior guard Tyra Breaux (Baltimore, MD) pitched in seven points apiece.

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS GLENVILLE STATE 74-69 IN NCAA DII REGIONALS

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team made school history with a 74-69 victory over Glenville State College (No. 7 seed) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament hosted by Edinboro University on Friday afternoon. JCSU improved to 25-4 overall and earned their first regional win in the history of the women's program. The Lady Golden Bulls advance to the semifinals to face West Liberty State College in McComb Field house at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12th.

Entering this regional tournament with the highest seeding in JCSU history; the Lady Golden Bulls looked and played like a No. 2 seed. Glenville State continued a five-man substitution pattern, but Johnson C. Smith moved up the court with more energy and quickness. Despite eight lead changes in the opening, J.C. Smith maintained control and led 46-36 at halftime.

In first half, the Lady Golden Bulls shot 41.5% (17-41) from the floor compared to 33% (13-39) from Glenville State. The Pioneers lost the rebounding battle 34-20 and were beat 28-16 inside the paint. JCSU also shot 64.7% (11-17) from the free throw line; however Glenville converted on all six of their first half free throw attempts.

JCSU women advance to regional final

Johnson C. Smith is within a game of advancing to the NCAA Division II women’s Elite Eight.

The Golden Bulls beat West Liberty 78-72 in overtime Saturday in the Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday in Edinburgh, Pa. JCSU, the No. 2 seed, improved to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday against CIAA rival and No. 8 Shaw at 7 p.m. Shaw beat Smith last week for the CIAA tournament championship.

“This season our team has been accountability for each other and themselves on and off the court, which has allowed us to strive for the common thread of competitive greatness,” Golden Bulls coach Vanessa Taylor said. “This is an exciting opportunity for our team, our University, and our conference; these young ladies have become pioneers and we want to go as far as we can.”

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NEXT GAME: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY LADY GOLDEN BULLS vs. SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS at EDINBORO UNIVERSITY (Pa.), MCCOMB FIELDHOUSE; NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 7 PM.
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