SHAW FENDS OFF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S TO REACH CIAA FINALS

SHAW FENDS OFF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S TO REACH CIAA FINALS

March 4, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Shaw University defeated Saint Augustine's College 74-65 Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena with the same formula it used in the two regular-season women basketball victories against its archrival – a fast start and strong inside play – to reach the CIAA Championship Game for the sixth time in nine seasons.

The talented Lady Bears (20-11 overall) will be gunning for their sixth league title since 2003 after knocking off a determined Lady Falcons squad (19-11) for the third time this season. The semifinal contest was similar to the other two games between the two rivals from Raleigh, N.C. The Lady Bears, the No.2 Southern Division seed, will face the Bowie State-Johnson C. Smith winner for the crown Saturday at 5 p.m.

As they had done before, the Lady Bears relied on their height and trapping defense to build an early lead, only for the Lady Falcons to rally in the second half. Once again, the Lady Bears – led by four double-figure scorers – were too strong in the end.

“We knew they were going to make some runs, but we weathered the storm and won the game,” Shaw Head Coach Jacques Curtis said.

Demaria Liles, a 6-1 forward, led the Lady Bears with 17 points and 10 rebounds, her seventh straight double-double and third in the CIAA Tournament. She was named Food Lion MVP of the game for the third consecutive game for her efforts.

Frontcourt 6-1 mates Aslea Williams and Kyria Buford added 14 points and 13 points, respectively, while both grabbed eight rebounds each. Brittney Spencer contributed 12 points, 6 assists and four steals for the Lady Bears, who shot 49 percent

For the Lady Falcons, CIAA player of the year Allison Sikes, a 5-10 guard-forward, led all scorers with 22 points but shot 8 of 24 from the floor. Le'Kiesha White, a 5-9 guard-forward, and CIAA rookie of the year Umeka Benson, a 6-0 center, both chipped in 12 points for the Lady Falcons, who shot 35 percent.

“We played in spurts,” Sikes said. “We didn't play 40 minutes.”

The Lady Falcons, the No. 4 Southern Division seed, were hurt more by their 24 turnovers than their shooting although they climbed back in the game midway in the second half by forcing 26 Lady Bears' turnovers. The inside play of Liles, Williams and Buford was too much for the Lady Falcons to overcome, however.

The Lady Bears set the tone early with a 10-2 lead on Buford's free throw and a three-pointer. They  extended the lead to 20-6 before the Lady Falcons settled down. Sikes capped a Lady Falcons 13-4 run with a three-pointer to get them back in the game at 24-19.

Just when it appeared the Lady Falcons were back in the contest, the Lady Bears pulled away with an 18-2 run including 10 consecutive points. Brittany Ransom of the Lady Bears scored on a layup for a 42-21 lead, and the Lady Bears went into halftime leading 43-25.

As in the previous two victories against the Lady Falcons, the Lady Bears forced turnovers with their trapping defense and used its height advantage to take control. The Lady Falcons committed 18 first-half turnovers and shot 36 percent.

The Lady Bears made the most of the turnovers to get easy layups. They also went to inside players Liles, Buford and Williams, who combined for 24 points. In all, it added up to 54 percent shooting for the Lady Bears in the first half.

Sikes scored 11 points by halftime for the Lady Falcons, who never found a first-half rhythm. The second half was more of the same early on for the Lady Bears, who built a 51-26 lead.

But the Lady Falcons rallied just like they did in Tuesday's quarterfinal win against Elizabeth City State when they came back from 13 points down late in the second half of that game.  Against Shaw, the Lady Falcons forced one turnover after another to trim the Shaw lead to single digits. Two free throws by White brought the Lady Falcons within seven points.

The Lady Bears responded by pushing their lead to 15 points before holding off the Lady Falcons one last time. Guard Brittany Torain hit a jumper to pull the Lady  Falcons within 67-63 with 2:56 left, but the Lady Bears went on a 7-2 run to finish the game. Spencer scored four points during the run.