LaQwesha Gamble had 16 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double in four games. She earned Queen City Classic MVP honors.
Box Score vs. Wingate
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team held off Wingate University for a 73-72 victory on Saturday evening inside Brayboy Gymnasium during the final day of the Queen City Classic. JCSU improves to 4-0 overall, while the Lady Bulldogs move to 1-1 in the standings.
The Golden Bulls took advantage of key moments in the first half. Senior guard
LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) tied the score at 22 all with a lay-up at the 8:09 mark. The basket by Gamble was the beginning of a 9-0 scoring swing for JCSU.
Later in the period, senior guard
Terran Quattlebaum (Mitchellville, MD) drilled back to back three pointers to give JCSU a double digit lead (35-25) with 3:29 remaining in the first. The Golden Bulls went into the locker at halftime with a 41-32 lead.
JCSU shot 48.5% (16-33) from the field and 71.4% (5-7) from the free throw line in the opening half. Quattlebaum had 13 points at the break with three of five shooting from the three point mark. Senior guard and newly appointed starter
Shavonda Price (Fort Wayne, IN) had four points and four assists.
Johnson C. Smith maintained control through much of the second half. A score in the post by senior guard
Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) had the Golden Bulls out in front by eight (65-57) with 6:52 on the clock. Unfortunately that would be the last JCSU score for over three minutes.
Nikki Burton tied the game for Wingate with a lay-up with 3:07 left to play. Price helped Johnson C. Smith recover by drawing contact on drives and solid free throw shooting down the stretch. With less than 30 seconds in regulation, the Lady Bulldogs trailed 72-67 until Burton hit a three.
Gamble went one of two from the FT line for a 73-70 lead with 16 ticks left in the game. The Golden Bulls defense forced Wingate inside for a lay-up as time expired. The perimeter was heavily guard and Wingate score inside, but had no time left to foul.
JCSU won the rebounding battle 49-37; however their shooting percentage dropped to 26.7% (8-30) in the second half. Long range shooting weathered the storm for the Golden Bulls. Johnson C. Smith shot from 50% (6-12) from three, four made by Quattlebaum. She ended the game tied for a team-high 16 points.
Sophomore center
Racquel Davis (Bamberg, Germany) delivered a 17 rebound, 16 point double-double on 70% (7-10) shooting from the field. Gamble had 16 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double in four games.
Johnson C. Smith heads to Winter Park, Florida after the Thanksgiving break to participated in the Rollins College Thanksgiving Classic. JCSU is scheduled to faced Florida Institute of Technology on Friday, November 25th at 3:00 p.m. The Golden Bulls challenges the host Rollins on Saturday, November 26th at 1:00 p.m.
