JCSU Women's Basketball Escapes From Catawba With 52-51 Road Win

Salisbury, N.C. (Dec. 11, 2017) – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team had to withstand a late Catawba rally to take a 52-51 road win on Monday night at Goodman Gym in Salisbury, N.C.
 
Both teams started hot, trading baskets throughout the first 6:48 with both teams knotted at 9-9.  JCSU then put together a 4-0 run to close the quarter thanks to a
Monique Hall (Melbourne, Fla.) basket and two Jasmine Carter (Dacula, Ga.) free throws, giving JCSU the 13-9 lead at the end of the quarter.

JCSU would extend the lead to 18-11 at the 8:14 mark of the second quarter after two more Carter free throws and would enjoy an eight point lead (25-17), the largest of the half, after sophomore guard Malia Rivers (Pageland, S.C.) knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing.

Catawba would go on a quick 5-0 spurt to trim the lead to 25-22 following a three pointer from Taisha DeShazo with 2:25 left.  After two Kendall Adams (Opelika, Ala.) free throws pushed the lead to 27-22, DeShazo hit a jumper at the halftime buzzer to cut the JCSU lead to 27-24 at the break.

In the third quarter after the Golden Bulls stretched the lead to six points (31-25), Catawba embarked on a 9-2 run over nearly a five-minute span, taking the 34-33 lead after a Talia Barnes layup at the 2:21 mark.  JCSU then regained the lead at 35-34 after Hall dropped in a basket with 40 seconds left but Catawba drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to that the 37-35 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth, JCSU would take the 48-43 lead at the 6:00 mark and had to withstand a late Catawba charge.  After being up 50-44 with 1:58 left, Catawba scored seven straight after a pair of Terri Rogers free throws, a Serena Brown three-pointer and two more Rogers free throws to take the 51-50 lead with 16 seconds left.  After a JCSU timeout, Asha Jordan knocked down the jumper in traffic to give JCSU the 52-51 lead.

Catawba then had a chance for the game-winner, but Rogers point-blank shot in the lane was too strong, giving JCSU the 52-51 road win.

The Golden Bulls shot just 37.3% from the field (19-of-51) but was 8-of-10 from the line and 6-of-14 from long range in the win, which boosted JCSU's record to 7-2 overall while Catawba dipped to 4-5 on the season.

JCSU will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Brayboy Gym, hosting Lincoln in the CIAA opener.  Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.