By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
Lady Wildcats Basketball (Lady Wildcats, 71, Lady Panthers 69)
As the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Lady Wildcats hosted the Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta University (CAU), it was breast cancer awareness night for FVSU. And as they have done for the past three seasons, tonight's game was designated as the Third Annual Pink Zone Basketball Game. In addition to basketball action, the night also included fundraising activities for the Kay Yaw Cancer Fund.
On the floor, the Lady Wildcats entered the game in sole possession of first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). With only two games remaining in the regular season, tonight's match up was the second meeting of the season between the teams. The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Panthers on January 29th in Atlanta, 78-65.
The 11th ranked Lady Panthers entered the game recognizing that they had an opportunity to steal some momentum before the pending SIAC Basketball Tournament (March 2-5, 2011) with a win over the conference leader. And for most of the first half, CAU played with that agenda in mind.
With three minutes remaining before halftime, the Lady Panthers held a 34-25 lead. A Jasmine Birdsong three point basket cut that lead to 34-28 with 2:45 left. However, the Lady Panthers took a 39-31 lead into the intermission.
The Lady Wildcats converted 11 of 33 shots in the first half compared to an 18 of 40 shooting performance by the Lady Panthers.
The start of the second half included a six to two scoring run by FVSU to cut the CAU lead to 41-37. With 17:10 left, Yasheeka Jones scored on a lay up for the Lady Wildcats who now trailed 41-39. At the 14:44 mark, CAU held a 45-43 lead. Finally, with 13:38 remaining, the Lady Wildcats took a 47-45 lead on a Shytina Harley jump shot.
With 8:50 left, the FVSU lead had grown to six points, 56-50. With 7:07 left, the lead was stretched to eight points (61-53) when Davina High scored on a lay up, was fouled and converted the free throw. Moments later, she scored again on a lay up after a beautiful behind-the-back pass from Jones.
The eight point margin still held with 2:49 remaining. After a CAU time out the lead inched up to 10 points (69-59) after a foul line extended jumper by Birdsong.
The final two minutes proved extremely interesting. A surge by the Lady Panthers and poor free throw shooting by the Lady Wildcats found FVSU leading 71-69 with eight seconds remaining and CAU with the basketball. After several shots inside the paint, the Lady Panthers were unable to convert and the Lady Wildcats held on for 71-69 win.
Yasheeka Jones was the game's leading scorer with 18 points. She also had seven rebounds. Jasmine Birdsong finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Freshmen High and Harley finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Lady Wildcats retain their conference leading status and improve to 18-9 overall and 16-5 in conference play.
This was the third year for the Pink Zone Basketball Game at FVSU. As a part of the Pink Zone Game tradition at FVSU, the most valuable players of the game for both teams are awarded the Sharon Cooper Memorial Award. The award is named in honor of Ms. Cooper, a former Lady Wildcat player who died from breast cancer.
The recipients of this year's Sharon Cooper Memorial Awards were Jasmine Birdsong for FVSU and Shay Lewis for CAU who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lady Wildcats will conclude the regular season on Thursday night (Feb. 24th) when they host the Tigerettes of Tuskegee University at 6 p.m. in the HPE Arena. The game has been designated as senior night and Lady Wildcat seniors Samara Billings, Tiffany Platt, and KaDeidra Freeland will be recognized during a special ceremony.
Wildcats Basketball (Panthers 67, Wildcats 57)
In the men's match up, the Wildcats hosted the fourth ranked Panthers of CAU. The Wildcats came into the game ranked ninth in the conference and with only Tuskegee remaining on its schedule, were looking for a confidence building opportunity with a win tonight. In the last meeting between the schools, CAU won 65-51.
The search for confidence proved difficult for the Wildcats in first half. CAU scored the game's first basket and with 5:53 left before halftime, led 21-13. With 1:23 left, the CAU grew to its largest in the first half, 37-18. The Panthers closed the first half with a 37-21 advantage.
The Wildcats shot 33% from the field in the first half, hitting eight of 24 shots. Clark Atlanta made 17 of 38 shots (45%) and had a 26 to 14 rebounding edge.
At the start of the second half, FVSU tried to scratch its way back into the game. A ten to five scoring run by the Wildcats made it a 42-28 score at the 16 minute mark. However, the CAU lead was back up to 17 points with 11 minutes left.
After a Wildcats basket by Detrius McCall with 6:24 left, the Panther lead was 56-42. With 3:53 remaining the Wildcats managed to cut the Panther lead to 13 points, 60-47. With less two minutes remaining, the Wildcats cut the lead to 11 points (64-53) after a Martavius Orr lay up.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to eight points before they simply ran out time. CAU came away with a 67-57 win.
Detrius McCall led FVSU in scoring with 14 points. Martavius Orr finished with 12.
With the loss, FVSU falls to 8-19 overall and 8-15 in conference action. The Wildcats wrap up the 2010-11 regular season at home on Thursday night (24th) at 8 p.m. when they host the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University.
-Wildcats Athletics-
