CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team topped Chowan University 57-49 in the opening round of the 2014 CIAA Tournament held in Time Warner Cable Arena. JCSU advances to the quarterfinals to face Fayetteville State University, the top-seed in Southern Division, on Wednesday, February 26th at 2:40 p.m.
Senior guard Karnina Bunch (Vicksburg, MS) scored a game-high 15 points, followed by sophomore center Amena Brent (Chicago, IL) with 11 points.
The production of the JCSU reserves was a big key in the win as the Golden Bulls (14-12) outscored the Hawks 26-12 in bench points. Senior guard Deanna Downer (Elberton, GA) had eight points, seven rebounds and three steals. All-CIAA sophomore center Ashley Porter (Winston-Salem, NC) contributed eight points and five rebounds. Junior center Chelsea Faulhaber (Spartanburg, SC) had six points, three rebounds and two steals.
"These young ladies fought through [a Chowan rally], and we were able to come out with a victory," said JCSU head coach Stephen Joyner Jr.
The contest started with Brent making her first two baskets to give the Golden Bulls a 6-2 lead, but the Hawks came back to tie the score at 8-8 keyed by four straight free throws by Williams.
JCSU reeled off 10 consecutive points for an 18-8 lead. The Golden Bulls were sparked by the play of Bunch and bench players Downer and Faulhaber.
The Hawks stopped the run with a free throw, but JCSU went on another 6-2 run for a 24-11 lead. Brent and Porter combined for six points during the Golden Bulls' run.
The lead was 25-11 when Chantel Roberts (7 points, 6 rebounds) buried a three pointer for the Hawks. The shot cut the deficit to 11 points, but senior guard Marquesha Sparks (San Fernando, CA) answered with a jumper in the paint for a 27-14 lead.
The Hawks came alive in the latter minutes of the first half, scoring six straight points to pull within single digits at 27-20. Freshman guard Quinesha Lynch (Rocky Mount, NC) hit a jumper for JCSU, but Dominique Weldon answered with a basket as the Hawks closed within 29-22 at the half.
Brent led a balanced JCSU scoring attack in the first half with seven points. Porter had five points and four rebounds to spark a Golden Bulls' bench, which keyed their first-half lead. Downer had four points and four rebounds and Faulhaber scored four points off the bench.
Roberts led the Hawks with seven points and Williams had four points. Summer Curtis amassed five first-half blocks.
The Hawks' run continued in the second half when Gostomski hit a three-pointer to pull within 29-25. It was as close as the Hawks had been since the early moments of the contest. Williams added a free throw to slice the margin to three points.
The Golden Bulls stopped the run with two free throws by Brent for a five-point lead. The Hawks wouldn't go away, however, as Gostomski hit a three from the wing to close within 33-30. The Hawks got within two points on Kaela Nelson's free throw.
JCSU pushed the lead to 39-31 on consecutive baskets by Bunch. She later dished off in traffic to Brent for a layup to increase their lead to 42-33 with less than nine minutes left. Brent later nailed a three to get the Golden Bulls' lead back to double digits at 47-35.
The Hawks made one last run. They scored eight straight points to get within four at 47-43. The Hawks later cut the lead to two before Bunch sparked the final Lady Golden Bulls' run.
Rachel Gostomski had 12 points and five steals and CIAA Rookie of the Year Courtni Williams added 11 points for the Hawks (12-16), who pulled within two late after trailing by double digits in the first half. But Bunch, the Food Lion MVP for the Golden Bulls, scored four points during an 8-2 run which ended a Hawks' comeback.
The win sends the Golden Bulls to the quarterfinals where they will face Southern Division top seed Fayetteville State on Wednesday, February 26 at 2:40 p.m. The two teams split wins during the regular season; both winning on their home floor.
Box Score
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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