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Feb. 8, 2010 Call WBB Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278 - BALTIMORE, Md. - The Lady Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman Women’s Basketball wrapped up a very successful visit to the Charm City, Monday night, with a decisive victory over Morgan State. Although the game opened with a very rough start for B-CU, and things looked dire for the Lady Wildcats, they rallied up to finish the first half, and game, going right at the Lady Bears, taking the win, 79-68. “As a coaching staff and players, we’re absolutely excited tonight over this victory for many reasons, said Head Coach Vanessa Inge. “One of the biggest is because this may have been the first time that we’ve been down 18 in the first half and battled our way back to win decisively. Our whole talk in the beginning was to stay together; we are a team, not a team of individuals, and tonight they played like a team.” In the opening half, the Lady Wildcats were having problems getting solid looks, and the offense looked shaky, while the Lady Bears seemed to be having no problems getting exactly what they wanted. MSU jumped out to an early double-digit lead over B-CU, and carried the momentum to their largest lead, 18 points, with 3:36 to go in the first. The Lady Wildcats buckled down, and started a late-half rally, slicing the lead in half to go into the locker room down just nine points. Although the Lady Wildcats didn’t shoot their worst game in the first half, at 37 percent from the field, the Lady Bears were having a field day from the perimeter, shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range in the opening period. The difference in the halftime scores could be accounted for in B-CU’s free throw opportunities, as the Lady Wildcats missed nine free throws in the first, shooting just 50 percent. The Lady Wildcats were outrebounded, and out-shot for most of the first half, but they really started to come together as the half wound down.
At half time, the coaching staff had the task of keeping the players all riled up, emphasizing teamwork and staying with working hard. “I told them that a band of five is not easily broken,” said Inge, “with all five of us as players, coming together, so we can win this game.” As soon as the clock started ticking, B-CU started to tear into the MSU lead in second half, making a 15-3 run to open the period and claim the lead. This time around, the Lady Wildcats looked to be more in control of their positioning and plays, getting open looks and making plays. As the midpoint of the half passed, the Lady Wildcats began to grow a lead over the Lady Bears, breaking the double-digit mark with just over a minute remaining. The second half was a polar opposite at the free throw line from the opening period, with B-CU making 14-18 and 7 of their last 8 attempts to close out the game, winning 79-68. A large factor in the second half was getting MSU’s offense under control and shutting down the key components. MSU leader Corin Adams shot 6-11 and had 14 points in the first half while Erin Hawkins was 3-4 from the perimeter) with 9 points at the half. In the second half, B-CU didn’t stop Adams, but most definitely slowed her progress, as she finished 9 of 20 with only 7 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Hawkins was only able to put in one more bucket in the second half. B-CU shot over 50 percent on the night, as the team came together to score 49 points in the second half. Leading the way for B-CU was Demetria Frank, one of three Lady Wildcats to score in double figures. Frank led in scoring with a career-best 27 points, shooting 10 of 13 from the free throw line, grabbing eight rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. It was an excellent all-around performance for the junior guard from Miami. Sarah Bolden locked in her fifth double-double of the season, finishing second in scoring with 14 points, and leading in rebounds with 12. Despite sitting almost the entire first half with an injury sustained in the opening minutes, Euneshia Proctor stormed out of the gate in the second half, scoring 10 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. The win moves the Lady Wildcats’ record to 12-10 and 7-3 in MEAC play, and moves B-CU into a tie for second place in the conference. With just six conference games and seven total remaining, every game is crucial now, heading into the conference tournament, with B-CU matching last season’s final win total already. “I told the ladies,” concluded Inge, “to not leave this success in this building. We have to continue on like we’ve always done, not get a big head, and not get overly excited. We have a road trip coming up with Delaware State and UMES. Even though those are two teams we beat, we’re now in their territory and we’ve got to come play hard and play together.”
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