Chante' Bell (#15) and LaQwesha Gamble (#23) were double trouble for Wingate with 12 and 10 points respectively in the 60-55 win
Box Score vs. Wingate
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team close out Wingate University with a 60-55 win on the final day of the 2010 Queen City Classic on Sunday afternoon inside Brayboy Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 4-0 overall while Wingate falls to 2-2 for the season.
These two teams were toe to toe for most of the contest. With 6:43 on the clock, freshman guard Chante' Bell (Fayetteville, NC) nailed a three-pointer to give JCSU their biggest lead of the first half (24-15). Wingate responded with a quick 11-2 scoring run, including three three-pointers to tie the game at 26 apiece with 2:13 before the half.
Both squads would only score one more field goal before the break, but a free throw from senior guard
Shakeena Cunningham (Buffalo, NY) had JCSU up 29-28 at the end of the first half. Bell came off the bench and contributed a team-high 10 points with two assists in the opening period. Junior guard
Terran Quattlebaum (Mitchellville, MD) had six points off 2-of-6 shooting from the beyond the arc.
In the second half, the game reached a 10th tie (49-49) after CC Brooks of Wingate rebound her own shot and scored on the put back. Quattlebaum dialed up a long range three to put J.C. Smith back out in front. With less than two minutes to play, the Lady Golden Bulls had two unanswered scores in the paint from junior guards
LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) and
Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) for a 58-51 advantage.
In the closing seconds, Wingate could not manage to significantly cut into the deficit and Johnson C. Smith rolled to their fourth win. The Lady Golden Bulls shot 40% (21-52) from the field in the game, compared to 37% (20-54) for WU.
Jones had a team-high 13 points with three assists, followed by Bell with 12 points. Gamble had her second consecutive double-double performance with 10 points, 11 rebounds (seven defensive), and four assists. Nearly in double figures were Cunningham and Quattlebaum with nine points each.
Kurie Washington paced the Lady Bulldogs with a game-high 16 points and Simone Rutledge chipped in 10 points and three assists.
“We had a collective effort tonight and received contributions with various places,” said JCSU head coach
Vanessa Taylor. “Chante' (Bell) really stepped up and made good use with her minutes, LaQwesha (Gamble) has really provided some consistency for us on the glass and helped us close out some games with solid rebounding, and Shakeena (Cunningham) had really been our leader on the floor. Shakeena has assumed the role of floor general, almost like another coach and tries to put her teammates in positions to succeed.”
Gamble was named QC Classic MVP, Jones earned All-Classic team honors, and senior guard
Shontanette Shaw (Raeford, NC) won the Classic Academic Award.
Johnson C. Smith will return to action on Tuesday, November 30th against Queens University of Charlotte inside Brayboy Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
