JCSU Women's Basketball Squeezes Past Bowie State, 53-50

|Charlotte N.C. (Dec. 16, 2017) – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team had to withstand a furious fourth quarter rally from visiting Bowie State University and got three late free throws from senior Asha Jordan in a 53-50 CIAA win at Brayboy Gym on Saturday afternoon

The Golden Bulls started hot, jumping out to an early 8-0 lead, forcing Bowie State to miss their first five shots.  The Bulldogs finally got onto the scoreboard after going scoreless the first 4:22 of the game.

After JCSU took a 13-6 lead on a Malia Rivers (Pageland, S.C.) free throw at the 1:21 mark, Bowe State would then cut the lead to 14-10 at the end of the quarter on two Pere Alexander free throws.

The Golden Bulls would start strong in the second quarter bolting out to a 13-point lead after a Monique Hall (Melbourne, Fla.) free throw.  After BSU cut the lead to 23-14, JCSU expanded their lead to 14 points (28-14) following a Jasmine Carter (Dacula, Ga.) basket.  Bowie State would get no closer than eight points down the stretch, with the Golden Bulls taking the 32-22 lead into halftime.

Bowie State made it interesting down the stretch, , tying the game at 46-46 with 2:49 left and took their first lead (49-48) of the game with 1:24 left on a Kyah Proctor three-pointer.  JCSU would retake the lead following a tip-in from senior Kendall Adams (Opelika, Ala.) with just 45 seconds left.  After the teams traded turnovers, BSU earned a foul and Sade Chatman got a free throw to drop, knotting the score at 50-50 with 19 seconds left.

JCSU then got to the line following a BSU foul, with Jordan giving the Golden Bulls the 51-50 lead with 14 ticks on the clock.

Following a missed Bulldog three-pointer, Jordan iced the game by knocking down two free throws with 0.9 on the clock, giving JCSU the 53-50 lead.  BSU's last chance heave from half court hit the rim, but fell to the side giving JCSU the win.

JCSU's Jasmine Carter lead the way with 10 points and six rebounds while Adams had nine points and six boards.  As a team, JCSU shot 33.3% (17-of-51) from the field and 3-of-11 (27.3%) from long range.

JCSU also ruled the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs 40-32.

The win improves JCSU to 8-2 overall, 2-0 in CIAA play while BSU drops to 7-3 and 0-1 in league play.

The Golden Bulls, ranked No. 7 in the latest Atlantic Regional poll, must make a quick turnaround, as they host #3 Virginia Union at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18 at Brayboy Gym.