UNCP Sinks To Lady Pirates In Overtime
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Facing their second overtime minutes in as many outings, the UNCP Lady Braves could not come out ahead on Wednesday evening against the Lady Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic, dropping the Peach Belt Conference contest in Alumni Arena, 83-80.
UNCP (13-13, 7-10 PBC) was led by JaToya Kemp who put away a notable 41 points and snagged eight boards against the Lady Pirates. Kemp’s 15-of-22 shooting from the field and perfect free throw percentage (11-of-11) marks a new career-best for the junior and also breaks AASU’s record of points put away by an opposing player (previously held by Joanna Cuprys of KSU - 38 points in 1997). Also putting away high points for the Black and Gold were Briana Stanton with 14 and DeDe Cotten with 11.
Armstrong Atlantic (9-16, 6-11), who put away a school record 13 3-pointers, was led by Portia Jones who picked up a double-double on 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Pirates. Also helping out AASU were Lauren Hall with 18 points, Dartayvia Thomas with 14 points and Arpine Amirkhanyan with 11.
A trey by Cotten got the Lady Braves off on the right foot during the first minute of overtime but the Black and Gold could not make good on the lead and sunk in the final minutes as AASU led by as much as five, 83-78, and the Lady Pirates went on to snag the overtime victory.
Opening up the second half up by nine, 37-28, UNCP’s Chevoya Jackson made it 11 with a jumper but Armstrong Atlantic wasn’t giving up, following the Lady Braves’ bucket with a 19-11 run to come within one point of UNCP, 50-49. The Lady Pirates continued to show their determination for the PBC win, and fought through the end, tying the game up in regulation, 69-69, to send it into overtime.
UNCP took the first points of the game off a Kemp layup and let Armstrong Atlantic flirt with the lead only once at the 17:56 mark when the Lady Pirates led by one following a Thomas jumper, 7-6. The Black and Gold would take back the lead just 20 seconds later on a Kemp jumper and saw the lead the rest of the way – exploding with a 19-4 run down the stretch for an 18 point cushion two minutes before the end of the first half.
The Black and Gold take to the court again on Saturday as UNCP faces a must-win situation against Flagler (8-18, 3-14) 1:30 p.m. at the English E. Jones Center. In order to clinch PBC Tournament berth, the Lady Braves will not only have to win against the Saints of Flagler, but receive help from Francis Marion beating Armstrong Atlantic (the Patriots and Lady Pirates play Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Savannah, Ga.).
The 1:30 p.m. Saturday tipoff in the English E. Jones Center will be preceded by Senior Night festivities as the Lady Braves Class of 2010 – Marquena Delk, Porcha Locklear, Casey Siddens and Jodi Zimmerman – will be honored in a pregame ceremony. Admission prices are $5 for adults and $2 for children 18 years of age and younger. UNCP students are admitted free with a valid Braves Card.
