Boxscore
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Junior guard Brittany Torain (Warner Robins, Ga.), named CIAA newcomer of the week Monday, canned two free throws in the final 13.5 seconds as Saint Augustine's College withstood a late Johnson C. Smith rally for a 62-58 victory Monday in a CIAA women's basketball contest at Brayboy Gymnasium.
The two free throws were half of Torain's four-point total for the Lady Falcons (17-9 overall, 11-5 CIAA, 5-4 Southern Division), who swept the season series against the regionally-ranked Lady Golden Bulls (21-3, 13-3 CIAA, 7-2 Southern Division), who honored their seniors on Senior Night. Two of the Lady Golden Bulls' losses have come against the Lady Falcons, who extended their winning streak to five games.
Senior guard-forward Allison Sikes (Richmond, Va.), named CIAA player of the week Monday, led four players in double figures with 16 points. Sophomore forward Scharlawn Hubbard (Akron, Ohio) and freshman center Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) both had double-doubles with Hubbard getting 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and Benson contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Crystal McCaffity (Havelock, N.C.) added 10 points.
LaQwesha Gamble scored 12 points and Racquel Davis added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Golden Bulls, who had six players score six or more points. The Lady Golden Bulls made only 10 of 26 free throws, however, for 39 percent. The Lady Falcons hit 17 of 28 free throws for 61 percent.
The Lady Falcons led 60-52 on a free throw by senior guard-forward Le'Kiesha White (Richmond, Va.) with 3:27 left, but the Lady Golden Bulls went on a 6-0 run capped by Shontanette Shaw's layup to close within 60-58 with 1:20 left. After Sikes missed a jumper, the Lady Golden Bulls attempted to tie or take the lead but Brittane Nealy misfired from up close and the Lady Falcons rebounded.
Torain was fouled and hit one of two free throws for a three-point lead with 13.5 seconds left. After another JCSU miss, Torain clinched the game with another free throw with six seconds remaining. The Lady Falcons led the entire second half.
Led by the inside play of Benson and Hubbard, the Lady Falcons pulled away from the Lady Golden Bulls midway in the first half. The score was tied 20-20 at the 6:53 mark before the Lady Falcons started an 18-5 run. Benson scored on a short bank shot, a follow shot and a free throw during the run.
Sikes capped the run with a deep jumper just inside the three-point line for a 38-25 Lady Falcons lead with 1:37 left in the first half, but the Golden Bulls scored six straight points to close within 38-31 at halftime.
Benson, returning to her hometown of Charlotte, N.C., led the Lady Falcons with 12 points and nine rebounds in the first half followed by Hubbard with eight points and six rebounds. Both players helped the Lady Falcons gain a 13-9 scoring edge on second shots in the half.
Sikes added eight points and four rebounds for the Lady Falcons. Gamble was the first-half scoring leader for the Lady Golden Bulls with 10 points and Terran Quattlebaum added seven points. The Lady Golden Bulls were hurt by poor free throw shooting in the first half, making only 6 of 18 free throws despite being in the bonus first. The Lady Falcons knocked down 6 of 11 free throws.
Sikes started the second half with five points including a three-pointer to give the Lady Falcons a 44-33 lead, but she picked up her third and fourth fouls by the 17:31 mark, forcing her to leave the game for a spell. Benson and Torain were later whistled for their fourth fouls but McCaffity picked up the scoring load. McCaffity scored four consecutive points including a basket on an assist from Davis for a 52-41 Lady Falcons' lead with 9:11 left. The Lady Golden Bulls responded with a 7-2 run to get within six points.
The Lady Falcons conclude the regular season Thursday with a visit to Spaulding Gymnasium to play crosstown rival Shaw, which won the first meeting 92-79 on Jan. 22. Game time is 6 p.m.
