Saint Augustine's edges Elizabeth City to advance to CIAA Women's Semifinals

Saint Augustine's edges Elizabeth City to advance to CIAA Women's Semifinals

March 1, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Saint Augustine's College advanced to the CIAA Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years Tuesday because the Lady Falcons never quit.

Down 13 points late and seemingly headed for defeat, the Lady Falcons staged a spectacular comeback to pull out a 70-68 victory over Elizabeth City State at Time Warner Cable Arena. The win avenged last year's first-round defeat to the Lady Vikings in the tournament. More importantly, the victory sends the Lady Falcons (19-10 overall) against arch nemesis Shaw in a 1 p.m. semifinal game Friday between the two Raleigh, N.C., schools.

It is a good thing the semifinals start later in the week because the Lady Falcons need a day or two to enjoy the win over the Lady Vikings, who led 63-50 with 7:08 left in the game. The game left the Lady Falcons exhausted but exhilarated. This was the second victory over ECSU this season.

“That was a very tough game, ECSU played a very tough game,” Lady Falcon first-year head coach Rachel Bullard said. “We played very resilient at the end and I am very proud of the girls. They didn't give up on me.”

Several Lady Falcons contributed to the victory. Senior guard Crystal McCaffity (Havelock, N.C.) scored a career-high 19 points including a career-high six three-pointers. Her three-point shooting (6-for-10) single-handedly kept the Lady Falcons in the game when they were playing subpar.

All-CIAA player Le'Kiesha White (Richmond, Va.) and CIAA player of the year Allison Sikes (Richmond, Va.) eventually got going with White scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, and Sikes pouring in 19 points.

But the Lady Falcons still trailed by 13 points mainly because of the play of Kenyatta Gill, who led the Lady Vikings (20-9) with 18 points including 15 in the second half and Stephanie Harper, who scored eight of her 12 points in the second half. Shaquella Johnson (14 points) and Shatara Jackson (13 points) were also effective.

Freshman forward Ebony Spencer (Chesapeake, Va.) hit two free throws to start the Lady Falcons' rally. It would be the first two of nine free throws during a 13-0 run which tied the game at 63 for the first time since early in the first half.

The Lady Falcons seized the lead at 67-66 on a follow shot by freshman center Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) at the 1:38 mark. Stephanie Harper made two free throws to put ECSU back ahead 68-67 but the Lady Falcons tied the score on Sikes' free throw. Sikes missed the second free throw but Benson stole a pass at midcourt and was fouled.

Benson, whose 11 points and nine rebounds all came in the second half, hit a free throw to put the Lady Falcons ahead for good at 69-68 with seven seconds left. After another Lady Viking turnover, McCaffity hit a free throw with two seconds left on an intentional foul, allowing the Lady Falcons to regain possession and run out the clock.

The Lady Falcons won despite 21 turnovers and shooting 37 percent while the Lady Vikings shot 43 percent. But the Lady Falcons held the Lady Vikings to 32 percent shooting in the second half after the Lady Vikings shot a blistering 59 percent in the first half.

The Lady Falcons fell behind by double digits in the first half but rallied to pull within 35-28 at halftime. Ball-handing woes plagued the Lady Falcons, who committed 11 turnovers which helped the Lady Vikings shoot 59 percent.

McCaffity carried the Lady Falcons with 12 points including 4-for-7 three-point shooting. The Lady Falcons finally came alive in with an 8-0 run in the last 1:48 to cut a 35-20 deficit to the seven-point halftime margin.

Sikes added 10 points including five points during the late run for the Lady Falcons, who shot 33 percent in the first half. Jackson scored 11 points and Johnson added nine points for the Lady Vikings, who committed 15 turnovers including two during the Lady Falcons run.

The Lady Falcons can take a day to reflect on the victory before preparing for Shaw, which has beaten its arch-rival twice this season. The Lady Falcons are gunning for the Lady Bears a third time they didn't give up.

“We were determined not to go home,” McCaffity said.