Boxscore
RALEIGH, N.C. - Saint Augustine's College wears down Lincoln (Pa.) University with suffocating full-court pressure in an 81-66 CIAA season opening victory between women's basketball teams Thursday (Jan. 5) at Emery Gymnasium.
The Lady Falcons, tied for seventh in Division II in turnover margin, forced 34 Lincoln turnovers, which is the third-most by an opponent this season. The Lady Falcons (6-5 overall, 1-0 CIAA) scored 30 points off the turnovers to control the contest.
Sophomore forward
Umeka Benson (Charlotte, N.C.) gained six steals to spearhead the defensive effort of the Lady Falcons, who had 17 steals as a team. She also corralled 10 rebounds to make up for an off shooting night. In fact, Benson and senior center
Keyona Bryant (Springdale, Md.) – the team's scoring leaders – combined to shoot 5-for-19.
Their sharpshooting wasn't needed on this night, though, as several players contributed offensively for the Lady Falcons. Sophomore guard
Ebony Spencer (Chesapeake, Va.) led four double-figure scorers with a career-high 16 points. She had 14 points by halftime to surpass her previous career high by two points.
Senior guard Keianna Evans (Fayetteville, N.C.) added 15 points and junior guard
Jolisa Williams (Charles City, Va.) scored 12 points which is one shy of her career high. Williams also added seven rebounds and three steals. Sophomore forward
Victoria Davis (San Diego, Calif.) chipped in six points and six rebounds.
Despite misfiring on many shots, Bryant was still a factor. She scored 14 points and led the Lady Falcons with 12 rebounds as they outrebounded the Lady Lions 27-15 on the offensive glass. The Lady Falcons lead the CIAA in offensive rebounding. The double-double is the second in a row and third this season for Bryant.
After the Lady Lions (4-8, 0-1 CIAA) scored the first five points, the game stayed close late in the first half. The Lady Falcons started to pull away at the eight-minute mark, however, turning a slim two-point lead into an 18-point margin with 2:55 left in the half. The Lady Falcons entered the locker room ahead 43-29 at halftime. The lead stayed in double digits for much of the second half with the lead climbing as high as 20 points at one point.
Sharay DuBose scored 15 points and Tahlar McIntosh added 14 points for the Lady Lions, who actually outshot the Lady Falcons 42 percent to 37 percent from the floor. But the Lady Lions couldn't overcome the quickness and strength of the Lady Falcons, who were 26-for-47 from the free throw line and scored 26 points off second shots.
The Lady Falcons play their second of four consecutive home games at Emery Gymnasium Monday (Jan. 9) against Virginia State University. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
