JCSU's Vanessa Taylor: A Path To Follow

Vanessa Taylor

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Longevity can be defined as the long continuance in a particular occupation. Success is defined as the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted. Johnson C. Smith University head women's basketball coach Vanessa Taylor is a shining example of longevity and success in coaching. In the midst of her 11th season, Taylor has reached her 200th victory at the helm of the women's basketball program at JCSU. With such as impressive milestone in tow, the opportunity to reflect on the journey is available.

After 10 seasons as head coach at JCSU, Taylor continues to strive for new heights instead of resting on her laurels. Last year, JCSU concluded the 2010-11 season in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll at No. 22 after a historic best 26-5 overall record. The Golden Bulls advanced to the championship game in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournaments. The victory over Glenville State (74-69) in the quarterfinals was the first ever regional tournament win for the women's basketball program.

Taylor was elected as the 2011 CIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year; her third time winning the honor, but first at JCSU. She has the most wins all-time as the head women's basketball coach at JCSU with a school record of 200-108 and an overall record of 283-203. Taylor has never had a losing season at Johnson C. Smith, including four seasons with 20 plus victories and no season with few than 16 wins.

Despite the success, Taylor remains humble, focused, and energized to accomplish more.

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JCSU: The few. The proud. The champs

The seeds of Johnson C. Smith’s track and field championship were sown four years ago.

That’s when first-year Lennox Graham brought in world-class sprinters from his native Jamaica, Leford Green on the men’s side and Shermaine Williams on the women’s. From there, the Golden Bulls added pieces to the foundation, which bore fruit last week with the school’s first CIAA women’s title. Green won his third straight most valuable award with 33 individual points and JCSU’s men scored 119 points to finish second to national power St. Augustine’s with 176.5.

“I had two pretty good recruits,” Graham said. “I thought...

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JCSU bids goodbye to track champions

Johnson C. Smith will say goodbye to the athletes who put its track and field program on the national map Saturday.

Seniors Nada Al-Arahshun, Leford Green, Richard Harkness, Lakaevia Tyler, and Shermaine Williams will participate in their final home meet Saturday at the JCSU Invitational at the Irwin Belk Complex. They will be acknowledged before the start of competition at 10 a.m. Green, who has won three men’s national Division II championships during his career, was named national indoor athlete of the year. Williams has three national women’s titles. Both have competed for Jamaica in international competition.

GOLDEN BULLS HOST 3RD ANNUAL JCSU TRACK INVITATIONAL ON APRIL 9TH

Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams will host the 2011 JCSU Track Invitational on Saturday, April 9th inside the Irwin Belk Complex. This one-day event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Johnson C. Smith will also honor their five senior track and field student-athletes (Nada Al-Arahshun, Leford Green, Richard Harkness, Lakaevia Tyler, and Shermaine Williams) to kickoff the event.

The Golden Bulls are coming off a successful indoor season in which 11 student-athletes earn All-American status at the 2011 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships held in Albuquerque, NM. Several school records and personal bests were set during the indoor season and the squad looks to repeat the efforts in the outdoor campaign

Golden Bulls stand tall amongst Division I competition

Auburn, AL – The Johnson C. Smith University women's and men's track and field teams won three events at the Tiger Track Classic hosted by Auburn University on Saturday at the Hutsell-Rosen Track. Several Golden Bulls student-athletes improved their national rankings with their performances this weekend.

Senior Shermaine Williams (St. Andrew, Jamaica) claimed the crown in the women's 100m hurdles with a season best time of 13.40. Williams leads the NCAA DII ranking for this event. Freshman Naffene Briscoe (St. Catherine, Jamaica) hit a personal best and set a new school record with her time of 55.16 in the 400m. Briscoe crossed the finish line fifth and also leads the DII ranking for 400m. Briscoe took 11th in the 200m, clocking in at 24.77.

Complete Results

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JCSU Lady Golden Bulls March On To The Regional Finals With 78-72 OT Win Over West Liberty

JCSU's CIAA BASKETBALL COACH OF YEAR,
VANESSA TAYLOR IS 2-0 IN NCAA DIVISION
II TOURNAMENT GAMES

JCSU women's basketball made history by reaching the most wins in a season 26-4, and earned the 1st two regional victories for women's basketball at JCSU after a 74-69 win over Glenville State and West Liberty University.

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball captured a 78-72 overtime victory against West Liberty University (No. 3 seed) in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday evening inside a frigid McComb Fieldhouse. JCSU improves to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday, March 14th to face 2011 CIAA Tournament Champions, No. 8 Shaw University (23-11) at 7:00 p.m. inside McComb Fieldhouse.

Junior guard Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) splashed a three pointer at the 19:13 mark for the first J.C. Smith points and lead (3-2) of the game. However, the Hilltoppers recovered quickly and displayed some dangerous outside shooting throughout the first half. West Liberty held an advantage for the remainder of the opening and led 40-32 at halftime.

JCSU shot 33% (12-36) in the first half, compared to 40.6% (13-32) shooting from West Liberty. The Hilltoppers connected on 7 of their 17 three point attempts, but were out-rebounded 27-18. Junior All-CIAA guard LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had most of the production with 10 points and seven rebounds at the break. Jones and senior guard Tyra Breaux (Baltimore, MD) pitched in seven points apiece.

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS GLENVILLE STATE 74-69 IN NCAA DII REGIONALS

Edinboro, PA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team made school history with a 74-69 victory over Glenville State College (No. 7 seed) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament hosted by Edinboro University on Friday afternoon. JCSU improved to 25-4 overall and earned their first regional win in the history of the women's program. The Lady Golden Bulls advance to the semifinals to face West Liberty State College in McComb Field house at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12th.

Entering this regional tournament with the highest seeding in JCSU history; the Lady Golden Bulls looked and played like a No. 2 seed. Glenville State continued a five-man substitution pattern, but Johnson C. Smith moved up the court with more energy and quickness. Despite eight lead changes in the opening, J.C. Smith maintained control and led 46-36 at halftime.

In first half, the Lady Golden Bulls shot 41.5% (17-41) from the floor compared to 33% (13-39) from Glenville State. The Pioneers lost the rebounding battle 34-20 and were beat 28-16 inside the paint. JCSU also shot 64.7% (11-17) from the free throw line; however Glenville converted on all six of their first half free throw attempts.

JCSU women advance to regional final

Johnson C. Smith is within a game of advancing to the NCAA Division II women’s Elite Eight.

The Golden Bulls beat West Liberty 78-72 in overtime Saturday in the Atlantic Regional semifinals on Saturday in Edinburgh, Pa. JCSU, the No. 2 seed, improved to 26-4 overall and advance to the regional championship game on Monday against CIAA rival and No. 8 Shaw at 7 p.m. Shaw beat Smith last week for the CIAA tournament championship.

“This season our team has been accountability for each other and themselves on and off the court, which has allowed us to strive for the common thread of competitive greatness,” Golden Bulls coach Vanessa Taylor said. “This is an exciting opportunity for our team, our University, and our conference; these young ladies have become pioneers and we want to go as far as we can.”

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NEXT GAME: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY LADY GOLDEN BULLS vs. SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS at EDINBORO UNIVERSITY (Pa.), MCCOMB FIELDHOUSE; NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 7 PM.
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