NCCU Lady Eagles soar past Virgnia Union

NCCU Lady Eagles soar past Virginia Union

February 28, 2006

Charlotte, NC – The North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles flapped their wings to the Third Round of the 31st Annual CIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament with a 76–66 win over the Virginia Union University Lady Panthers.

The Lady Eagles controlled most of the first half behind an 11 point production by CIAA Record Holder Cassie King. VUU tied the game on a trio of occasions, but NCCU nudged away with a point margin advantage as much as 11 points. The Lady Eagles produced 19 points off of 14 turnovers committed by the Lady Panthers. NCCU held their hands high to create great difficulty for VUU. The Lady Panthers shot a less than fair 36.4% (eight of twenty-two) from the field and struggled even more from behind the arc making just two out of seven attempts. NCCU led 34 – 23 at the intermission.

In the second half, the Lady Eagles preyed upon the Lady Panthers with an 11 – 2 scoring run. Minutes after, a lay-up by Porschia Holmes gave NCCU their largest lead of 24 points. The Lady Panthers were down, but not out. First Year Head Coach Bryan Underwood instructed his tired, but talented troop to keep their heads up and keep fighting. VUU did just that as they closed the 24 point gap to seven points, but only with sixty seconds remaining. Dominating defense and a banked basket by Cassie King canceled any and all comeback chances for VUU.

NCCU’s Cassie King recorded her 11th season double double scoring a team high 19 points with 10 rebounds. Additional scoring was provided by Lisa Richardson with a career high 17 points and Porschia Holmes with 14 points. The Lady Eagles’ Holmes dismantled the defense with nine assists to etch her name in the school books with a season total of 145 assists.

VUU’s leading scorer was Andrea Bellamy with a game high 24 points. Also, scoring in double digits was Shawanda Geter with 14 points and Shanell Roberts with 11 points.

NCCU is now 22 – 5. The Lady Eagles will rest and regroup until their three o’clock contest on Friday, March 3, 2006 against the victors of the Saint Augustine’s College and Shaw University game.