Johnson C. Smith Takes Down Lander 64-60

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team got 16 points and 17 rebounds from senior Ashley Porter along with 19 points from freshman A'Diyah Ussery to take a 64-60 nonconference win over visiting Lander on Thursday afternoon in Brayboy Gym.

In the first quarter, JCSU, having not played since Dec. 19, showed their rust. The Golden Bulls managed to shoot only 17.6% (3-of-17) from the field. Lander also struggled from the floor, going 4-of-14 for 28.6%, but managed an 11-7 lead over JCSU at the end of the quarter.

Lander started the second quarter on fire, nailing two three pointers to take a 21-10 lead before JCSU's Amena Brent (Chicago, Ill.) completed a three-point play after being fouled on a driving layup with 7:10 left, bringing JCSU to within 21-13. The Bearcat lead would swell to 25-13, forcing a JCSU timeout with 6:20 left in the quarter. Freshman A'Diyah Ussery (Shelby, N.C.) would knock down a three pointer and Krista White (Dayton, Ohio) would convert a jumper then forced a turnover that led to a transition layup that closed the gap to 25-20 at the 3:49 mark.

Lander would respond, boosting their lead to 32-24 after outscoring JCSU 7-4 run over the final three minutes of the quarter to provide the halftime score.

JCSU would go on a 7-0 run to close the deficit to 32-31 after the first 1:45 of the third quarter thanks to a three-pointer from Ussery, a pair of free throws from senior Ashley Porter (Winston-Salem, N.C.), and another jumper from Ussery that forced Lander to call timeout at the 8:15 mark.

JCSU would take the lead following an Ussery transition layup after Porter blocked a Bearcat shot. Porter would hit Ussery with the outlet pass to provide the 33-32 lead. That lead was short-lived, as Lander responded with a three pointer to regain the 35-33 lead at the 7:05 mark. The Bearcats would go on a 10-4 lead to stretch the lead to 45-37 before Porter nailed a long jumper to make it 45-39. A free throw from Lander's Ty'Heshia Reynolds followed by a JCSU layup from Porter provided a 46-41 cushion with 1:18 to play.

After a missed Lander layup, JCSU would cash in when Porter received a long pass that led to a layup that pulled JCSU to within 46-43 with 50 seconds to go. JCSU's Jaylaan Dillard (Raleigh, N.C.) would connect on two free throws with 6 seconds left to provide the 46-45 score at the end of the third quarter.

After Lander had jumped ahead 54-49 in the early stages of the fourth quarter, JCSU junior
Cierra Levias (Seattle, Wash.) knocked down a three pointer from the corner to bring the Golden Bulls to within 54-52 with 5:47 remaining. JCSU would later get a free throw from Asha Jordan (Monroe, N.C.) to narrow the gap to 54-53 with 3:44 left and would go ahead 55-54 on a Porter layup following a Bearcat turnover.

Another Lander turnover led to Ussery canning a corner three pointer to put JCSU up 58-54, but a soft jumper from Lander's Bre Crum made it 58-56 JCSU with 1:37 left. JCSU would get two free throws from Asha Jordan to go ahead 60-56 with 1:28 to go. JCSU would extend the lead to 62-56 after a pair of Porter free throws. Lander would force a JCSU turnover with 54.2 seconds remaining and would capitalize when Sannayyiah Johnson scored a jumper in the lane to pull to within 62-58.

After a pair of missed JCSU free throws, Lander got back to the line, but Reynolds missed both shots, with Quinesha Lynch (Rocky Mount, N.C.) securing the rebound with 33.1 left.

After a pair of missed JCSU free throws, Lander cut into the lead again, this time with a jumper in traffic from Breshay Johnson to pull to within 62-60. JCSU's Lynch would make it 63-60 with 5.9 left after a free throw. Following a Lander timeout, the Bearcats would have one last chance for the game-tying three pointer, but JCSU forced a turnover and Krista White canned a free throw with one second remaining to provide the 64-60 final.

Lander's Bre Crum managed 15 points while Sannayyiah Johnson had 14. Jada Wallace also scored 10 for the Bearcats.

The win improves JCSU to 9-4 on the year while Lander falls to 8-4.

The Golden Bulls will return to the court on Monday, Jan. 4 for a CIAA contest against Bowie State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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