Johnson C. Smith defeats Saint Paul's to advance to CIAA Semifinals
February 26, 2008
CHARLOTTE, NC - Kyria Buford scored 12 points as Johnson C. Smith downed Saint Paul's 55-50 in the final CIAA Tournament quarterfinal game at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Tuesday (Feb. 26).
The third-seeded Lady Golden Bulls (20-8) will face second-seeded Bowie State in the semifinals on Friday (March 2) at 3 p.m. The Lady Golden Bulls have reached the CIAA Tournament semifinals seven straight seasons under head coach Vanessa Taylor.
The Lady Golden Bulls remained unbeaten in Charlotte including a 12-0 record at Brayboy Gymnasium on campus.
Ashley Chase added nine points including two free throws with 14 seconds to seal the victory for the Lady Golden Bulls. Katrina Wright scored a game-high 16 points including 3 of 3 three-point attempts and Tatiana Ellis added 10 points for Saint Paul's (11-15), which only led three times the entire game.
The Lady Golden Bulls went on an 11-2 run in the final eight minutes of the first half to lead 25-15 at halftime. Their lead grew to 34-23 six minutes into the second half but the Lady Tigers stayed within striking distance. The Lady Tigers closed within 52-48 with 23 seconds left on Wright's three-point shot, but the Lady Golden Bulls hit 3 of 4 free throws to clinch the win.
Buford grabbed seven rebounds to become the Lady Golden Bulls' second career leading rebounder. She helped the taller Lady Golden Bulls own a 43-38 advantage on the boards.
Both teams shot poorly as the Lady Golden Bulls hit 30 percent from the floor and the Lady Tigers made 29.6 percent of their shots. But the Lady Golden Bulls connected on 25 of 37 free throws while the Lady Tigers made 14 of 20 free throws.
"Getting to the line sustained us rebounding-wise and offensively," Taylor said.
The Lady Tigers committed 25 fouls compared to 17 for the Lady Golden Bulls.
"I think the story of the game was the fouls," Lady Tiger head coach Serena King-Coleman said. "The fouls came at bad time."
The Lady Tigers did force 25 turnovers and record 15 steals including five steals by Juantale Cook, but they also committed 21 turnovers. The Lady Golden Bulls had eight steals including two each by Chase, Tyra Breaux and Demetria Bell.
