Boxscore
RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior guard-forward Allison Sikes (Richmond, Va.) had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 9 steals as Saint Augustine's College surprised nationally-ranked Johnson C. Smith 71-56 Saturday in a CIAA women's basketball contest at Emery Gymnasium on WBCA Pink Zone Day.
Sikes collected 13 points and seven steals in the first half as the Lady Falcons (14-9 overall, 8-5 CIAA, 2-4 Southern Division) opened a 33-21 halftime lead over the Lady Golden Bulls (19-2, 12-2, 5-1 CIAA), ranked No. 25 this week in the USA Today/ESPN Division II poll. Freshman center Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 12 points and Sikes added 11 points in the second half as the Lady Falcons pushed the lead to 20 points with 10:52 left in the game.
The Lady Falcons handed the Lady Golden Bulls their first division loss of the season and snapped their eight-game winning streak. It was the first defeat for the Lady Golden Bulls since Jan. 15 to Virginia State.
Benson added 16 points, 14 rebounds and five steals while senior guard-forward Le'Kiesha White (Richmond, Va.) had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Falcons, who scored 20 points on 24 offensive rebounds.
Sikes was one steal away from her second career triple-double. She had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals in an 82-48 victory over Virginia Union on Jan. 13.
This has been a terrific senior season for Sikes, who was named to the Capital One/CoSida Academic District III team in February. After the game, Sikes, along with teammates White and junior center Keyona Bryant (Springdale, Md.), were honored for scoring over 1,000 career points this season. Sikes, a two-time All-CIAA pick, has over 1,300 points, 800 rebounds and 200 steals in her four-year career with the Lady Falcons.
LaQwesha Gamble had 15 points and 17 rebounds for the Lady Golden Bulls, who shot 28 percent and committed 29 turnovers which were turned into 23 Lady Falcon points. Led by Sikes and Benson, the Lady Falcons finished with 18 steals. The Lady Falcons have been great this season about forcing turnovers which leads to easy points.
The contest was designated as Pink Zone Day with proceeds from a T-shirt and bake sale going to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in conjunction with the V Foundation. The Lady Falcons played in pink uniforms in recognition of breast cancer survivors.
Both teams will see each other again Feb. 21 in Charlotte, N.C. The Lady Falcons' next game is Monday at Fayetteville State. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
