2004 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional

Saturday, March 13, 2004 - Semifinals

HUGE FIRST HALF ENOUGH FOR LADY BOBCATS TO HOLD OFF VA. UNION

RALEIGH, NC – Georgia College & State University enjoyed a huge first half and then held off a late charge by Virginia Union University for a 71-61 victory in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament at Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, NC.

The Lady Bobcats advance to the regional championship game for the first time in the program’s history, while improving their overall record to a new school standard of 28-5.

Senior guard Breane Haggard topped GCSU in scoring with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, all behind the three-point arch. Junior Antoinette Long posted a solid all-around effort with 18 points, a team-best seven rebounds and a game-high five steals.

VUU (24-7) was led by senior 6-6 center Danielle Hoggard with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior guard Shaaron Atkins recorded 14 points, six assists and three steals.

After five lead changes and three ties, VUU held a slim 15-13 advantage after a three-pointer by Pria Stellmacher at 13:23 of the first half.

GCSU then went on a 29-3 tear to take a commanding 42-18 lead on a put-back by Long with 2:39 before the break. The Lady Bobcat cushion was 42-24 at intermission.

VUU steadily chipped away at the deficit in the second half, finishing a 20-9 run with an Atkins free throw at 4:42 to make the score 59-54, still favoring the Lady Bobcats.

GCSU responded by scoring the next six points to go ahead 65-54 at 2:18 , and the Lady Panthers could only get to within six points the rest of the way.

Lady Bobcat head coach John Carrick opened the post-game press conference by saying, “Before anyone asks … yes, we have played 40 minutes of basketball this season. During the regular season, we were a second half ball club more than a first half ball club. We had a hard time coming out strong. Lately, we’ve had big leads and something happens.”

GCSU scored 23 points off 26 Lady Panther turnovers, while Virginia Union managed only four points off 13 Lady Bobcat miscues.

GCSU made twice as many trips to the foul line as VUU, with the Lady Bobcats connecting on 28-of-36 (77.8 percent) free throw attempts compared to 11-of-18 (61.1 percent) for the Lady Panthers.

“I am really proud of my young ladies and the effort that they displayed, being down 18 and making a come back,” said VUU head coach Moses Golatt.