CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Saint Augustine's College advanced to the CIAA Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years Tuesday because the Lady Falcons never quit.Down 13 points late and seemingly headed for defeat, the Lady Falcons staged a spectacular comeback to pull out a 70-68 victory over Elizabeth City State at Time Warner Cable Arena. The win avenged last year's first-round defeat to the Lady Vikings in the tournament. More importantly, the victory sends the Lady Falcons (19-10 overall) against arch nemesis Shaw in a 1 p.m. semifinal game Friday between the two Raleigh, N.C., schools.
It is a good thing the semifinals start later in the week because the Lady Falcons need a day or two to enjoy the win over the Lady Vikings, who led 63-50 with 7:08 left in the game. The game left the Lady Falcons exhausted but exhilarated. This was the second victory over ECSU this season.
That was a very tough game, ECSU played a very tough game,” Lady Falcon first-year head coach Rachel Bullard said. “We played very resilient at the end and I am very proud of the girls. They didn't give up on me.”
Boxscore
Saint Augustine's upsets Elizabeth City State
Mallard Creek High graduate Umeka Benson's free throw with 7.4 seconds left lifted St. Augustine's to a 70-68 win against North No.1 seed Elizabeth City State and a semifinal date against cross-town Raleigh rival Shaw.
Benson, the CIAA's rookie of the year, converted the second of two free throws after stealing a pass in the final seconds to push St. Augustine's (No. 4 South, 19-10) in front. She scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds. Three other Falcons scored double-digits, paced by Crystal McCaffity (6-of-13 from the field) and player-of-the-year Allison Sikes with 19 each. Le'Keisha White tossed in 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for St. Augustine's, which overcame a 35-28 halftime deficit.
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