Racquel Davis led JCSU with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in her first career start
Box Score vs. Tusculum
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team topped Tusculum College 61-55 on Friday evening in a non-conference game inside Brayboy Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 7-3 overall, while the Pioneers fall to 5-3.
The Golden Bulls appeared to feel out their opponent before going for the jugular. Tusculum jumped out to a 19-12 lead eight minutes into the first half. JCSU then put the clamps on the defensively. The Pioneers went nine minutes without scoring a point.
Johnson C. Smith produced 11 unanswered points during the Tusculum drought. From the 11:56 mark until halftime, JCSU outscored the Pioneers 15-4 for a 27-23 lead at the break.
Senior guard
LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had 10 points and three boards in the first half. Senior guard
Shavonda Price (Fort Wayne, IN) and sophomore center
Racquel Davis (Bamberg, Germany) supported the scoring effort with five points apiece.
JCSU has led at halftime in all 10 games this season. Avoiding a three-game losing skid, the Golden Bulls closed out Tusculum. Johnson C. Smith held an advantage the entire second half and sealed the win with solid free throw shooting.
Davis produced a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds in her first career start for JCSU. Price had 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Gamble concluded the contest with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.
Despite being slightly edged in rebounding 43-38; JCSU forced 26 turnovers and scored 22 points off those turnovers. The Golden Bulls shot 32.7% (17-52) from the floor and 65.7% (23-35) from the free throw line.
Tusculum had similar shooting percentages from the field and the charity stripe, but connected on just three of 17 attempts from the three point line (17.6%).
Coach Taylor reaches a coaching milestone with her 200th victory at Johnson C. Smith University. Her coaching record at JCSU currently stands at 200-108. Her overall coaching record is 283-203. Taylor coached seven seasons at Elizabeth City State University before taking the helm of JCSU women's program.
“This is a very humbling accomplishment,” said a tearful Taylor. “I might be in the spotlight as the coach, but this is a team achievement and we wouldn't have gotten to this point without the support of our administration and alumni. I thank you all.”
JCSU will return to the court in the New Year against conference competition. The Golden Bulls will face Chowan University on January 4, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. inside Brayboy Gymnasium. A brief ceremony will be held prior to the start of the contest to acknowledge Coach Taylor's 200th coaching win.
