JCSU Stuns No. 20 Virginia Union, 77-75
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, N.C. (Dec 19, 2015) – In a game that featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, JCSU stunned No. 20 Virginia Union 77-75 in CIAA action on Saturday afternoon in Brayboy Gym.
Four Golden Bulls scored in double-figures led by 22 points from
Ashley Porter (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Asha Jordan (Monroe, N.C.) had 14 while
Krista White (Dayton, Ohio) had 11 points and 10 assists. Freshman
A'Diyah Ussery (Shelby, N.C.) also scored 10 points, including the clinching free throws with 0.6 remaining to claim the JCSU win. Virginia Union, who was ranked No.20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, also had four players in double figures, led by Rahni Bell's 22 points.
Things went JCSU's way early, as the Golden Bulls forced four early Panther turnovers to take the early 8-0 lead. VUU would respond quickly with an 8-0 run of their own to tie it at 8-8 with 6:02 left in the first. JCSU would build the lead back to five points at 17-12 after
Porter knocked down a free throw with 4:21 remaining. Virginia Union would then embark on a 12-0 run to provide the 24-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, JCSU would go on a 12-0 run of their own to take the 29-24 lead with 6:33 remaining after an Ussery three pointer and a Jordan jumper. Virginia Union would respond by staging a 16-4 run that made it 40-33 with 2:01 left thanks to a layup by Taylor White. JCSU would then close to within two points at 40-38 right before halftime by getting baskets from Porter and a three pointer from White with three seconds before the halftime buzzer.
It was nip-and-tuck in the third quarter as well. After being tied 50-50, the sixth tie of the game, JCSU was able to push the lead to 55-51 with 2:06 remaining after a Jordan jumper. The Golden Bulls were able to force two more missed VUU shots and Porter dropped in a soft layup as time expired in the third quarter to give JCSU the 58-51 lead.
In the fourth quarter, VUU was able to draw to within 59-57 and took the 60-59 lead at the 7:48 mark when Ashley Smith converted layup and a free throw after being fouled in transition. The Panthers Lady Walker converted a layup, stretching the lead to 62-59 with 7:02 left.
After a soft jumper from
Larryqua Hall (Atlanta, Ga.), VUU would stretch the lead to 66-61 after an Ashley Smith layup. JCSU would again rally, closing to within 68-67 after White nailed a pair of free throws. VUU then threw the ball out of bounds, but scored a transition layup after a blocked three point attempt to make it 70-67. JCSU would close to one point again after Porter converted a layup, but a three pointer by VUU's Rahni Bell made it 73-68. JCSU would respond when Jordan canned a three of her own to draw to 73-72 with 2:01 left.
JCSU would have an opportunity to take the lead, but an errant pass led to a VUU steal with 1:09 left. After a Panther timeout, VUU could not convert, as they turned it over on a three-second violation. That led to VUU fouling JCSU on the ensuing possession. JCSU's
Jaylaan Dillard (Raleigh, N.C.) was able to knock down a free throw to draw even at 73-73 with 41 seconds remaining.
After a Panther timeout with 39.4 left, JCSU forced a turnover and had a chance to take the lead but turned the ball over. That led to a layup from Lady Walker with 24.3 left that gave VUU the 75-73 lead.
With 24.3 left, JCSU would get a layup from
MaryAnna Moore to tie it at 75-75. JCSU would force another turnover and with 5.8 seconds left,
A'Diyah Ussery was fouled on the right side while attempting a long three pointer.
Ussery would go to the line for three shots and after missing the first, nailed two straight to give JCSU the 77-75 lead. Virginia Union could not get a shot off as the buzzer sounded, giving JCSU the win.
JCSU improves to 8-4 overall, 2-0 in CIAA play while Virginia Union (8-1, 0-1 CIAA) suffers their first loss of the season.
