2004
NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional
Saturday, March 13, 2004
- Semifinals
AUGUSTA
STATE
WINS ROLLER COASTER RIDE OVER LADY
PIRATES
RALEIGH,
NC – Augusta State University had all the answers during a 79-74 victory over
Armstrong Atlantic State University 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
No. 8 seed Lady Jaguars never trailed, but the contest was a roller coaster
ride.
Augusta
State
enjoyed a handful of comfortable leads, only to
have AASU storm back and narrow the gap each time. However, with each charge the
Lady Pirates made,
Augusta
State
responded with a big basket or a run of their
own.
Four
Lady Jaguar starters accounted for 66 of the team’s 79 points. Junior forward
Cheryl Audain led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Latoya Renwrick
tallied 17 points and nine rebounds, Alshaa’ Hodges contributed 16 points and
five assists, and Ernesia Wideman added 13 points and three steals for Augusta
State (23-7).
“I’m
proud of our team,” said
Augusta
State
head coach Greg Wilson.
“To be a team that was talked about the possibility of not being here,
I think we’re playing pretty well. I
thought that this was possibly one of the toughest coaching jobs that I’ve
had, to try to get up after last night (defeating top-seed Shaw).”
“I
was pleased,”
Wilson
added. “We came out with the same fire.
I was really pleased with the first half.
In the second half I think our tongues were dragging and we just
couldn’t guard anybody, but that’s to be expected playing two days in a row,
emotional games, on the road.”
Armstrong
Atlantic
State
(23-8) was topped by senior guard Tasha
Washington with a game-high 25 points, including 23 in the second half after
picking up two quick fouls in just six minutes of action in the first stanza.
Alicia Durham chipped in 16 points for the Lady Pirates, and Kaneetha Gordon
added 14 points and six boards.
Through
the first 15 minutes of play, the game was tied twice and
Augusta
State
’s lead was only as big as seven points. The
margin was 26-22 after a three-pointer by AASU’s Briana Milam at
5:19
, but
Augusta
State
scored the next eight points, including six from
Audain, to go ahead 34-22 with
2:08
before the break. The score was 36-27 at the
half.
Out
of the locker room,
Augusta
State
pushed the lead to 43-31 at
16:26
. The Lady Pirates posted a 13-2 run, with 11
points courtesy of
Washington
, to pull within 45-44 at
12:54
.
Moments
later, the Lady Jaguars scored five unanswered points, all on free throws, to
get some breathing room, 52-46, at 10:41. AASU rallied again to tie the game at
56-56 at
7:49
.
Augusta
State
pushed the margin to four points before an
old-fashioned three-point play by
Washington
cut the deficit to 62-61 at
5:58
. The Lady Jaguars responded to take a 73-64 lead
at 2:30, before still another surge by AASU pulled the Lady Pirates to with
three points, 74-71, with 41 seconds left. The deficit was again three points,
77-74, after a jumper by
Durham
with 20 ticks remaining, but a pair of free
throws by Brandi Hollingsworth with 14 seconds on the clock proved to be the
final blow.
“Obviously,
we’re disappointed that we weren’t able to move on, but it’s been a heck
of a year,” said AASU head coach Roger Hodge. “I’m so proud of what our
kids have been able to accomplish in the face of a lot of adversity early on in
the year. Although this is a heartbreaking, disappointing loss I am so happy for
them and proud of what they were able to accomplish.”
The
No. 8 seed Lady Jaguars advance to the regional championship game against No. 2
seed
Georgia
College & State
University
on Monday (March 15) at
7:00 p.m.
-
end -