Women Update Wednesday – 12/11
Every Wednesday, Spectacular Magazine aims to bring you an update on women collegiate athletics around the state of North Carolina. Read below to check out what’s going on in women’s sports locally. To check out last week’s update, click here.
Wolfpack Enters National Top 10 in AP Poll
RALEIGH, NC – For the first time this season, the unbeaten NC State women’s basketball team (9-0) has entered the top 10 of the Associated Press national rankings. The 13th-ranked Wolfpack defeated ninth-ranked Maryland in Raleigh on December 5 and moved up to ninth place in Monday’s poll with 490 points.
NC State was no stranger to the AP top 10 last season, spending 16 weeks in this category. Monday’s ranking marks the 380th week in program history that has seen the Wolfpack in the AP top 25 and the 151st time that the program has appeared in the top 10.
The Wolfpack has two home games remaining before taking a break for the Christmas holiday. NC State will host Elon on Sunday, December 15 at 12 noon and Chattanooga on Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 pm.
Check out pictures from NC State’s big win over Maryland below. Images by Lawrence Davis III.
Gorecki Amasses 1000 Career Points, Duke Defeats BC
Led by a game-high 27 points from guard Haley Gorecki and a double-double from senior Leaonna Odom, the Duke women’s basketball team opened ACC action in Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday with an 85-73 victory over Boston College.
For the full recap, click here.
Shaw’s Callis Named the CIAA Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week
Redshirt freshman, Sydni Callis (Maricopa, AZ) of the Shaw University women’s basketball team was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week announced by the league office Monday afternoon.
Callis received the award after registering five points, two rebounds and an assist in the Lady Bears contest against Bowie State. Additionally, Callis was 66-percent from the floor.
The accolade is Callis’ first of the season and first for the women’s basketball program at Shaw for 2019-20.
The Lady Bears (3-4, 0-1 CIAA) will return to action Thursday, Dec. 12 with a home contest against Elizabeth City State University in a CIAA cross-division contest at 6 p.m. in Spaulding.
Lady Bears Fall To Bowie State At Home
The Shaw University women’s basketball team dropped a 59-48 decision to the visiting Bowie State University in a non-conference tilt Saturday afternoon inside the historic C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium. The loss dips the Lady Bears to 3-4 overall while the Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 7-0 on the season.
Senior guard Dejoria “DJ” Howard posted a game-high 21 points on 9-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds. The Lady Bears finished the contest, shooting 46.3-percent from the floor, 36.4-percent from the 3-point line and 85.7-percent from the free-throw line. However, Shaw committed 20 turnovers and saw a 24-22 disadvantage on the glass.
Bowie State held a 10-0 advantage in second chances, 22-10 in points off turnovers as the Bulldogs were 47.7-percent from the field, 50-percent from long distance and 77.8-percent from the charity stripe.
Good defense by both teams showed a low scoring first quarter but the Bulldogs gained an 8-4 lead over Shaw with 3:30 left. A layup from junior Diamonique Kennedy pulled Shaw within two, however, a three-ball from Drew Calhoun extended BSU’s lead as the Bulldogs led 14-9 over the Lady Bears after one quarter of action.
BSU warmed up in the second stanza, stretching its lead 20-11 over Shaw with 7:20 on the clock as Calhoun connected on another 3-pointer. The Bulldogs scored seven unanswered points until a jumper from Howard snapped the scoring drought for Shaw with the Lady Bears trailing 24-13 at the 5:03 mark. From there, Shaw saw a 7-4 drawback in the final five minutes of the first half, as BSU owned a 31-17 lead at the break.
Both teams traded baskets to start the third quarter, the Lady Bears cut the deficit to single digits when Howard got a defensive rebound and then hit a jumper to pull Shaw within 36-28 with 2:22 left. Bowie State quickly mounted a 6-0 run with back-to-back 3-pointers from Calhoun as the Lady Bears trailed 42-30 at the end of the third frame.
Shaw held an 18-17 scoring frame in the fourth quarter but the Bulldogs ballooned to its largest lead of the contest in that same quarter at 21-points capped off by a layup from Kyaja Williams and 2:18 remaining in regulation. Although the Lady Bears scored the game’s last eight points, it would not be enough as the Lady Bears ran out of time in the setback.
Williams led Bowie State with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Calhoun tallied 15 points and Talanya Hutton added 11 p points and six rebounds.
Shaw will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 12 versus Elizabeth City State at 6 p.m. in Spaulding
UNC, Bailey Dominates NC Central After Slow Start
CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina overcame a slow start against North Carolina Central University to pull away late in a 92-53 victory in Carmichael Arena. The UNC women’s basketball team got points from 10 different players to match its season-high in scoring. Junior Janelle Bailey led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season.
Paulina Afriyie led NCCU with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Afriyie’s second double-double of the season and 18th of her career consisted of team-best totals of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ashlyn Lockard followed with nine points.
For a full recap, click here.
Lady Niners Drop Contest at Kentucky
LEXINGTON, KY – A fast start by No. 15/14 Kentucky continued for 40 minutes, as the nationally-ranked Wildcats halted Charlotte’s win streak with an 86-39 victory Wednesday inside Memorial Coliseum. The ‘Cats were the third opponent from a ‘Power 5′ conference on the 49ers early non-conference slate.
Charlotte received most of its scoring from bench players, including a team-high eight points from sophomore Jazmin Harris. Senior Lauren Harley and freshman Sierra McCullough added four points apiece, helping the Niners outscore the Wildcats, 24-22, on bench production.
It marks the seventh time in the eight games played, this year, in which Charlotte’s bench produced more points than its opponent.
While the 49ers tallied only 18 made field goals, 13 of those were on an assist. Eight different players were credited with at least one, led by sophomore Jada McMillian’s four.
The stat lines of senior Jade Phillips and junior Mariah Linney were almost the exact same. Both players finished with six points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal. The lone difference was Phillips adding a blocked shot.
While the Wildcats earned the triumph, it only leveled the overall series between the two schools. The Niners had picked up a win in the only previous meeting, in 1992.
Kentucky’s All-American, Rhyne Howard, won the opening tip and then drained a 3-pointer on the Wildcats’ opening possession. It was the start of a 29-point effort and UK never trailed throughout the contest.
Charlotte’s offensive opportunities were limited as a result of connecting on just 32.1 percent of its shots. Meanwhile, the Wildcats converted at a 46.8 percent clip, featuring 10 3-pointers to the Niners’ two.
The 49ers (6-2) will return to Halton Arena for two of their final three non-conference games, starting with an 11:30 a.m. Dec. 17 tip against Delaware for the program’s annual Education Day.
SAU Women’s Basketball Falls To Bowie State
RALEIGH, NC – Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) hung tough with regionally-ranked Bowie State University before falling 57-45 in a non-conference women’s basketball game between CIAA teams at Emery Gymnasium on Thursday.
The Lady Falcons played competitively as the Bulldogs (6-0 overall), ranked fourth in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll, never quite pulled away. The Bulldogs led 33-20 at halftime but the Lady Falcons closed within 37-31 in the third period on a layup by Kaaliya Williams. The SAU deficit hovered around eight to 10 points midway in the fourth period before the Bulldogs stretched their lead in the final two minutes.
Williams finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Falcons. Kamya Renwicks added 10 points and Milequa Eason contributed eight points.
Kyaja Williams collected 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Talanya Hutton added 14 points.
The Lady Falcons (4-3 overall) are home again next Saturday, Dec. 14, against Elizabeth City State University in another non-conference game between CIAA foes. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at Emery Gymnasium.