RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 25) – Visiting Saint Augustine's University (SAU) made one clutch play after another to outlast Shaw University 85-80 in overtime of a CIAA women's basketball game between crosstown rivals on Friday night. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Falcons had ended their losing streak at Spaulding Gymnasium dating back to 2008, a span of nine games.
Friday's win was a complete team effort. Dynamic guard Angela Caraballo (Jr./Richmond, VA) scored a career-high 28 points and added five steals to spark a balanced scoring attack. Four Lady Falcons scored in double figures and six SAU players scored six or more points.
Kelsee Arnold (Sr./Fayetteville, GA) provided offensive support with 16 points while Kamya Renwicks (Jr./Baltimore, MD) and Tanisha Wall (Jr./Franklinton, NC) were everywhere on the court. Renwicks posted 11 points, 8 rebounds, six assists and five steals, and Wall tallied 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Bianca Igwe (Sr./Tampa, FL) was also effective with nine points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Kiana Clark (Jr./Queens, NY) chipped in six points and Shankia Clark (Jr./Orlando, FL) had four points and seven rebounds.
The Lady Falcons set season highs in points, three-pointers made (12) and assists (17) on their second-best shooting night (46.3) on the season. Their defense was even more impressive as the Lady Falcons forced 29 turnovers, including a season-high 16 steals, which led to a whopping 41 points. The 29 turnovers tied a season-worst for a Lady Falcons' opponent.
The steals came at the most critical times for the Lady Falcons. Trailing by one with 29 seconds left in regulation, Caraballo stole the ball from a Shaw player dribbling near midcourt. She drove in for the layup to put the Lady Falcons ahead 69-68.
Igwe's two free throws gave the Lady Falcons a 71-68 lead, but Victoria Swanson of Shaw drilled a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to knot the score. After a Lady Falcons turnover, the Bears had possession with five seconds left, but Renwicks recorded a steal on the inbounds play and the contest went into overtime after the Lady Falcons missed a layup as time expired.
After Wall's three gave the Lady Falcons a 74-73 lead in the extra session, Caraballo posted another steal and layup for a three-point lead, which was part of a 10-3 run. A three by Arnold pushed the lead to 81-74 with 43 seconds left, and the Lady Falcons were on their way to giving first-year Head Coach Montel Jones a signature win against the traditionally-steeped Lady Bears in his young and promising career. The Lady Bears have won nine CIAA championships since the 2000s.
A balanced effort on both ends of the floor was more than enough to overcome Shaw's 6-6 center Macy Keen, who amassed 30 points and 13 rebounds. KlinTisha Martin poured in 21 points but the Lady Bears (0-4 Southern Division, 5-14 overall) could not match the quickness and intensity of the Lady Falcons, who were determined to leave Spaulding Gymnasium with a win.
The Lady Falcons played with hunger from the opening tap. They led 24-13 at the end of the first quarter and went into halftime leading 38-31. A fourth-quarter run put the Lady Bears ahead 67-62 with 3:28 left but the Lady Falcons would not be denied.
The Lady Falcons (2-3 Southern Division, 3-15 overall) can build on their win against Livingstone College at Emery Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.
