JCSU Women's Basketball Drops Overtime Decision to USC Aiken, 64-61
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, N.C. (Dec 12, 2015) – After battling through six ties and six lead changes, the Johnson C. Smith women's basketball team was unable to overcome a late surge from USC Aiken, dropping a 64-61 overtime decision in Brayboy Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams came ready to run in the early going, as neither team was able to build a large advantage. The Pacers were able to build the early three point lead at 7-4 following a Kassy Johannsen jumper at the 5:54 mark. JCSU would score two straight baskets to take the 8-7 lead after
Larryqua Hall (Atlanta, Ga.) converted a driving jumper with 5:11 left.
Leading 13-10 after an Alexis Ware three pointer, USCA extended the lead to 15-10 on another layup by Johannsen at the 1:24 mark. JCSU would cut the lead to 15-12 after
Quinesha Lynch (Rocky Mount, N.C.) got a basket to fall, but another Johannsen layup provided the 17-12 margin at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Pacers stretched the lead to six points following a pair of Mariah Durian free throws that made it 22-16 USCA at the 7:10 mark. Stephanie Ball would then provide USCA the 25-18 cushion after a three pointer with 5:20 to play.
Following the media timeout, the two teams traded turnovers but JCSU was able to cut the lead after Hall scored a layup while being fouled with 2:47 remaining. The subsequent free throw was no good, as JCSU trailed 26-21. Following
Jaylaan Dillard (Raleigh, N.C.) free throw, JCSU was able to steal the inbound pass and Lynch converted a layup on a nice pass from
MaryAnna Moore (Laurens, S.C.) to cut the lead to 27-24 with 2:18 left.
With 33.4 seconds before the half, USCA got a three pointer from Durian to make it 29-24. After a JCSU timeout, Lynch calmly knocked down a 15-footer and the Pacers shot at the halftime buzzer was strong providing the 29-26 USCA lead at the break.
Out of the halftime break, JCSU was able to force a Pacer turnover and converted when Dillard scored after a Hall miss to draw within 29-28, but USCA's Durian nailed a three pointer to make it 32-28. Moore was able to corral a rebound after missing a pair of free throws after being fouled on the next JCSU possession, banking in the layup that made it 32-30 with 8:33 left.
JCSU then was able to draw even at 32-32 for the first time since it was 10-10 in the first quarter after Moore hit two free throws. USCA continued to have trouble with the JCSU pressure, immediately turning the ball over. After a jump ball allowed JCSU to retain possession, the Golden Bulls could not convert, turning it over. That led to another three pointer from Durian to make it 35-32 with 7:13 left.
Amena Brent (Chicago, Ill.) was able to tie it at 35-35 after scoring on a close jumper while being fouled. Her free throw was good at the 6:52 mark in the third quarter.
JCSU regained the lead 37-36 after a Pacer free throw on a foul line jumper from Hall at the 5:49 mark. A free throw from Brent gave JCSU the 38-36 lead and on the next USCA possession, JCSU forced another turnover, the 20
th of the day for the Pacers.
Courtney Dollison (Gainesville, Fla.) made it 40-36 JCSU after a pair of free throws at the 3:39 mark of the third quarter but USCA got a basket from Rocky Auponte following a missed three pointer to trim the deficit to 40-38. After a Dillard jumper, USCA nailed a three pointer to make it 42-41 but JCSU immediately responded when
Krista White (Dayton, Ohio) drilled a three of her own to give JCSU the 45-41 lead. USCA hit their ninth three pointer of the game on their next possession when Alexis Ware connected from the left side to draw to within one at 45-44.
After a pair of Moore free throws made it 47-44 JCSU, USCA was able to force a JCSU turnover and a long USCA attempt fell no good at the end of the third with the Golden Bulls holding the three point advantage.
USCA was able to go on a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter, capped by another Ware three pointer, her fifth of the game, giving the Pacers the 51-47 lead, forcing a JCSU timeout with 7:44 remaining. JCSU's
Ashley Porter (Winston-Salem, N.C) was able to stop the bleeding, hitting a short layup in traffic that drew the Golden Bulls to 51-49.
Asha Jordan (Monroe, N.C.) was able to bring JCSU to within 53-52 when she buried a three pointer with 6:08 left.
After a free throw from Stephanie Ball made it 54-52, JCSU was whistled for another foul, giving the Pacers two more opportunities from the line, which Rocky Auponte nailed to stretch the lead to 56-52. JCSU then got a hard-fought basket from Porter that got the lead to 56-54 with 3:18 left.
After the teams traded missed shots, JCSU once again had the opportunity to draw even, but Jordan's shot was strong, with the Pacers earning the rebound with 1:40 remaining but USCA was whistled for the offensive foul, turning it over to the Golden Bulls.
MaryAnna Moore would pull the game even at 56-56 when she hit banked in a jumper, forcing a timeout for USCA with 59.3 left.
After a missed USCA shot, JCSU had an opportunity to take the lead, but Jordan's shot was strong and USCA failed at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra stanza, neither team was able to score through the first 2:45 of the game until the Pacers Jasmine Coach hit a free throw to make it 57-56 with 2:15 left.
Jordan connected on a three pointer to give JCSU the 59-57 lead with 1:48 remaining. USCA worked the shot clock deep on their next possession and gained an offensive rebound off a missed three and Kassy Johannsen converted a jumper to make it 59-59. After a JCSU foul, Aupont made it 61-59 USCA with 40 seconds left. JCSU would then miss a long three pointer with USCA earning the rebound, immediately calling timeout with 26.2 to play.
After JCSU was called for a foul with 23.9 left, USCA's Kate Duff was able to hit one free throw to extend their lead to 62-59.
After a full timeout by the Golden Bulls, Jordan sliced through the Pacer defense and connected on a layup with 17.8 left, making it 62-61, forcing a Pacer timeout.
Aupont was able to hit two free throws at the 15.0 mark to make it 64-61 then JCSU's last second three pointer was strong, giving USCA the 64-61 overtime win.
JCSU got 10 points and nine rebounds from
MaryAnna Moore while
Quinesha Lynch,
Asha Jordan and
Larryqua Hall all finished with eight.
Krista White and
Jaylaan Dillard both have seven points for the Golden Bulls, who fell to 6-4 on the season.
Ashley Porter hauled in a team-high 14 rebounds for JCSU in the loss.
USCA got a game-high 16 points from Mariah Durian. Teammate Alexis Ware connected for five three pointers for 15 points. Also scoring in double figures for the Pacers was Rocky Aupont with 11 andKassy Johannsen with 10.
JCSU will begin CIAA play on Tuesday, Dec. 15, hosting Northern Division foe Lincoln. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the JCSU men's team.
