Charlotte, North Carolina – The Johnson C. Smith women's basketball team used a strong second-half surge to come back from a six-point halftime deficit to take a 59-57 win over visiting Fayetteville State in CIAA action from Brayboy Gym on Saturday night.
Shanequa Phifer was hot from the start, as she canned a three-pointer from the corner for JCSU's first points, putting the Golden Bulls up early at 3-2.
Fayetteville State would push ahead 13-7 on a three of their own from Makayla Williams at the 15:43 mark, followed by a layup from Deja Middleton.
The Lady Broncos would go up by as many as eight points, but JCSU would battle back to cut the lead to 21-19 on a pair of LaKendra Wilkerson free throws at the 7:51 mark.
The Golden Bulls would tie it up at 23-23 with 6:22 left on an Asha Jordan three-pointer, however the Lady Broncos would respond, by going on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 29-23 with 1:11 remaining in the 1st half. JCSU would get a shot from Anika Jones and Fayetteville State would get a Richardson basket to provide the 31-25 halftime margin.
In the second half, FSU would strike first on a Middleton put-back, but the Golden Bulls' Wilkerson would draw a foul and hit both free throws to trim the lead to 33-27. Middleton would again hit for FSU, but JCSU's Porter would respond with a basket of her own to cut the lead to 35-29.
Shanequa Phifer would close the gap to six following a steal and layup with 16:10 remaining. JCSU would go on a run, with Quinesha Lynch hitting a jumper to tie it at 37-37. Following a Lady Bronco turnover, Asha Jordan would give JCSU the 39-37 lead after a baseline drive and layup.
Amena Brent would give JCSU the lead at 41-39 on a soft jumper in the lane and would score following an FSU miss to extend the JCSU lead to 43-39 with 10:10 remaining. Following a media timeout Larryqua Hall would connect on a three-pointer to put JCSU up 46-39.
Phifer would find hit from distance again, this time from the corner to put JCSU up 51-43 with 7:01 left.
The JCSU defense would then force a Lady Bronco turnover and the subsequent fast break layup from Kaylah Gholson would give the Golden Bulls it's largest lead at 55-45 with 5:31 remaining.
The Lady Broncos would claw back into it, cutting the JCSU lead to 55-53 with 2:31 remaining following a Williams three-pointer, forcing a JCSU timeout. After a Golden Bull turnover, Fayetteville State would force the 55-55 tie with a Jordan Hill layup. On the next JCSU possession, following an FSU foul, Larryqua Hall would hit two free throws to give JCSU the 57-55 lead. Another Lady Bronco turnover would give JCSU possession again, and the Golden Bulls would capitalize on a Phifer jumper to put JCSU up 59-55. Fayetteville State would turn the ball over again, this time with 17 seconds remaining, but would force a JCSU turnover with 14.5 left.
After a Fayetteville State timeout, a running jumper from Battle trimmed the JCSU lead to 59-57 with 7.4 remaining.
The Lady Broncos would be forced to foul, sending Hall to the line with 5.9 remaining. Hall would miss the free throw and the Lady Broncos' Shamaiya Battle's three point attempt was too late and JCSU took the 59-57 win.
JCSU was led by Shanequa Phifer, as she had 10 points in the win. Ashley Porter also scored nine points and hauled in 10 rebounds for JCSU. Larryqua Hall and Asha Jordan also had nine points each for the Golden Bulls. LaKendra Wilkerson contributed eight points for JCSU in the win.
Fayetteville State was led by Deja Middleton's 16 points and 11 rebounds. Makayla Williams would net 11 points for the Lady Broncos in the loss.
JCSU improves to 15-2, 5-1 in CIAA play while Fayetteville State falls to 7-9, 3-4 in league play.
BOX SCORE
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION AND CIAA.COM
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