SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Saint Augustine’s University is young this season, but the Lady Falcons displayed the moxie of a veteran team in an 83-76 women’s basketball overtime victory over Davis & Elkins at the Wolf’s Bus Lines Classic on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.
The Lady Falcons (1-2 overall) rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to record their first victory of the season. The win was huge for the Lady Falcons, who have nine freshmen and sophomores and two new transfers on the roster. The Lady Falcons started three newcomers against Davis & Elkins (1-1).
Porscha Walton (Fr./Chesterfield, Va.), named to the all-Classic team, led five Lady Falcon double figure scorers with 19 points. Both Temperance Jacobs (Sr./McDonough, Ga.) and Jeanne Marie Wilson (Fr./Temple Hills, Md.) scored 13 points and Briana Arrington (So./Richmond, Va.) scored 11 points. Jasmine Cuffee (So./Norfolk, Va.) chipped in 10.
“Getting this win speaks volumes about our team,” St. Aug Head Coach Rachel Bullard said. “It gives us confidence. It gets the monkey off our backs.”
Despite their youth, the Lady Falcons played tough in close losses to Mount Olive and West Liberty. The average margin of defeat in both games was five points.
On Friday, the Lady Falcons almost beat West Liberty after trailing by 18 at halftime on the first day of the Classic. On Saturday, the Lady Falcons rallied from a 39-31 deficit at the half, only this time they completed the comeback.
Inside players Jacobs and Arrington combined for 18 second-half points to spark the rally. Down 46-35, the Falcons scored 11 unanswered points to tie the game. Arrington scored the final four points in the spurt on a jumper and a layup.
“Our team decided in their heads to execute the game plan,” Bullard said. “They started attacking and good things started happening.”
A three-pointer by Arrington put the Lady Falcons ahead (51-50) for the first time since they led 2-0. Davis & Elkins led 66-63 with 40 seconds left in regulation but Jacobs scored three consecutive points including the first of two free throw attempts with two seconds left to tie the score at 66-66 and send the game to an extra session.
In overtime, the Lady Falcons outscored Davis & Elkins 17-10 for the victory. They clinched the win by sinking 10 of 10 free throws and forcing Davis & Elkins into 1-for-8 field goal shooting for 12.5 percent. Jacobs and Walton each made four free throws for the Lady Falcons.
“I am really excited about the win,” Bullard said. “I am happy for our players. In our last loss, we ran out of time. Today, we didn’t.”
The Lady Falcons return home to Emery Gymnasium in 11 days (Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012) to host the University of D.C. The contest starts at 5:30 p.m.
–Sports Management Office
