LADY BEARS MAUL VIRGINIA STATE EN ROUTE TO THE SEMI-FINALS
February 27, 2008
Charlotte, NC - Entering the 33rd Annual CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament as the top seed, Shaw University took care of business as expected with a 73-52 win over the Lady Trojans of Virginia State University (ninth seed) Tuesday evening inside the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
The Lady Bears won both regular season games this year against VSU by four points each time (41-37; 49-45). Despite averaging 67.6 points per game as a team this season, Shaw has scored less than 50 versus the Lady Trojans. In this contest, it appeared that the Lady Bears would exceed their previous scoring totals when they put up 38 first half points.
In the opening period, each team's All-CIAA guard led their squad in scoring. Virginia State junior Katania Walker scored 10 of the team's 23 points, including two three-pointers (2-of-7). Senior Jamie Goshen was the catalyst for the Shaw with 12 points, accounting for two of Lady Bears' five first half scores from beyond the arc (5-of-12).
At the half, Shaw was up by 15 (38-23) shooting 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from the field, compared to VSU's 34.8 field goal percentage (8-of-23). The Lady Bears' bench outscored Virginia State's reserves 23-to-9, which was the biggest disparity between the two teams in the initial period.
Things only got worse for the Lady Trojans in the second half. By the 6:04 mark, Shaw had extended the lead to its largest point of 27. Virginia State allowed 24 points off 34 turnovers and was outscored in the post 26-18. Perhaps the fatigue of having played the previous night was a factor in the Lady Trojans' 73-52 loss.
Jamie Goshen led all scorers with 22 points and was named the Food Lion Most Valuable Player. Senior guard NaKeisha Anthony finished with 16 points and six rebounds for the Shaw.
Despite committing eight turnovers, VSU's Katania Walker led her team with 21 points and five rebounds. Freshman Temperance Brantley was the only other Lady Trojan to score double digits with 10 points.
Shaw will go on to face the No. 5 seed, Fayetteville State University on Friday, February 29th at 1:00 pm from the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. These two teams split their regular season series (1-1), both picking up a win on the road.
