Gamble comes up a winner for Johnson C. Smith University

LaQwesha Gamble

Charlotte, North Carolina -- LaQwesha Gamble plans on going out with a bang. The Johnson C. Smith senior power forward was named all CIAA after the leading the Golden Bulls to a 26-5 record last season. She is a preseason all-conference pick by league coaches. However, she expects to do even better than last season’s 11.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

“Out of all the awards I have received, the all CIAA award means the most to me,” she said. “It’s one of the toughest conferences to play in, therefore it means the most.”

Gamble has been a force to be reckoned with since high school in Winter Haven, Fla. At Winter Haven High, she was named Miss Florida Basketball and led the Blue Devils to the 2005 4A state championship. Gamble had no intentions of playing basketball, however. She used the sport as way to stay in shape between volleyball and track seasons.

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JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SHOWS DEPTH IN 63-51 EXHIBITION LOSS TO UNC-WILMINGTON

Wilmington, NC - The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team made their public debut for the season with a resilient 63-51 exhibition loss to the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday evening inside the Trask Coliseum. UNCW is a NCAA Division I institution competing out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Senior preseason All-American guard LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had the most offensive production in the first half. Gamble had a team-high six points, three steals, and three rebounds (all offensive) at the break. Fellow senior guard Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) shot two-of-six from the field for five points in the first period. Both Gamble and Jones started along with three other seniors: forward April Smith (Auburn, AL), guard Ashley McGee (Milwaukee, WI), and guard Terran Quattlebaum.

Shooting rust was apparent as J.C. Smith only made seven-of-37 shot attempts (18.9%) in the opening half. UNCW held a 30-19 lead at halftime, shooting 44.8% (13-29) from the floor.

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