SHAW CLAIMS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP
March 4, 2006
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – The three-time defending CIAA
champions, the Shaw University Lady Bears , were challenged for the
2006 Championship Title by the homestanding Lady Golden Bulls of
Johnson C. Smith University. Despite hustling on the hardwood for a
one-point lead at halftime, JCSU was dealt a
heartbreaking defeat by the Lady Bears, 53 – 50.
Some coaches believe that it is rather simple to just put the ball
in the basket. However, both teams found it to be a rather
difficult concept as each team shot below 40% in the first half. SU
sunk 11 of 36 shot attempts (30.6%) and missed all eight
three-point attempts. The Lady Golden Bulls also bucketed 11
baskets, but on 33 shot attempts for a 33.3% field goal percentage.
JCSU overcame their charges with 12 turnovers to be lead into the
intermission leading 28 – 27 via Shemika Jones’ 10
points.
SU sped into the second half to brush back the Lady Golden Bulls
to lead by as many as six points (39 – 33) with a little less
than 11 minutes remaining in the battle. JCSU refused to go down
without a fight and gored the Lady Bears with a 10 – 4
scoring run and knotted the contest at 43 – 43. SU and JCSU
continued to rally back and forth for the lead, but the Lady Bears
produced one point for each of the Lady Golden Bulls’ 13
turnovers and cruised to the charity stripe to knock down a cup
full of conversions in the last five minutes to secure the win.
Leading in scoring for the Lady Bears was Chanae Early with 12
points. Carletta Harrell and Leslee Anderson teamed up for a
combined 18 points.
The Lady Golden Bulls’ leading scorer was Shemika Jones with
a game high 16 points. In addition, Whittney Barnes and Rochelle
Bodie combined for 17 points.
The Shaw University Lady Bears are the first to claim a CIAA
Women’s Championship in the CIAA’s new home and now
sport a record of 26 – 4 and prepare for the 2006 Division II
Regional Championships.
