Sports Beat column - March 7, 2007

Sports Beat
March 7, 2007

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

North Carolina closed out the regular ACC Men's season by thumping Duke in a pretty rough and poorly officiated game. For coach "K" to say that Henderson's forearm to Hansbrough's face wasn't intentional is like saying a thug on the street ripping off an old lady's pocketbook isn't a robbery. In recent days the previously kindly coach "K" has been talking like "Tark the Shark" and not like the "Wizard of Westwood". But is was not surprising that this happened in the final minutes of the game after the officials had called such a lousy game throughout. Also the officiating in the ACC women's tournament one has to wonder what elementary schools is the ACC recruiting their officials because they are terrible â¤³ both men and women.

Here's the ACC men's tournament schedule 1st round Thursday:
Clemson vs. Florida State          noon
Maryland vs. Miami                   2:30 p.m.
Duke vs. N.C. State                   7:00 p.m.
Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest   9:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals â¤³ Friday
UNC vs. winner of Clemson vs. Florida State                   noon
Boston College vs. winner of Maryland vs. Miami            2:30 p.m.
Virginia vs. winner of Duke vs. N.C. State                        7:30 p.m.
VA Tech vs. winner of GA Tech vs. Wake Forest             9:30 p.m.
Saturday â¤³ Semi Finals                                                 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.
Sunday â¤³ Final                                                              1:00 p.m.

The Terps are hot and could go all the way in the tournament but they lack that outstanding big man to do it. I think North Carolina will do it but the Terps are my dark horse candidate in the race. UNC's Ivory Latte is a very good player but also is one of the biggest hot dogs I have ever seen, you know she would make a good mascot for an NBA team. Why are the officials so bad in the ACC? Are they best friends with the commissioner that assigns them? In that UNC vs. Maryland women's game did they ever call a 3 second violation or do they even know what it is? There were plenty they could have called on both teams. D.J. Strawberry made the All-ACC second team, James Gist and Ikene Ibekwe made Honorable Mention. Thursday night at Michael's 8th Avenue â¤³ Thursday (March 8th) Ballroom Boxing returns to Michael's 8th Avenue with a big boxing event starring "Irish" Carson McCrouney in the main event of Ballroom Boxing's 90th show. Also returning is Cory Cummings and longtime amateur Danny Kisner will be making his pro debut.

Saturday Night Fight's March 10th
Pikesville Armory 610 Reisterstown Rd
Doors Open 6:30 & Live entertainment will start
One of the best bands on the East Coast
Johns Basement 8PM The fights will start with one of the best Main Events ever held in the Maryland area
Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow , Pasadena , MD , 9-0
VS Matt Berkshire, Morgantown , WV , 8-0
Also Mike Paschall 10-0; Richard Stewart 11-2;
Eliase Bouloubassis, Ray Grant, and Diamond Matt Hill
& making his Pro debut outstanding Amateur boxer Earl "Mouse" Cole
For tickets call 410-375-9175 or go to BALTIMOREBOXING.COM

Langhorne, Coleman Named All-ACC Tournament
Terps helped Maryland reach the semifinals

Maryland's Marissa Coleman and Crystal Langhorne were named to the ACC's 10-player All-Tournament team, which was announced at the conclusion of the 30th-annual ACC Women's Basketball Tournament. Both were second-team selections as they led Maryland to the team's fourth-straight semifinal. Junior Crystal Langhorne was voted to the all-star team for the third-straight year. She was named the Player of the Game in the Terps' quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech where she nearly had a double-double, netting 18 points and nine rebounds. In the semifinals, she had 16 points and five rebounds, averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 68.2 percent. Sophomore Marissa Coleman also had a big weekend at the tournament. She averaged 17.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg, while shooting better than 58 percent. She posted a double-double against the Yellow Jackets, tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds. She also added three assists and two blocks in that game. She followed up with a 18-point, eight-rebound performance in the semifinals vs. North Carolina . Langhorne was a two-time first team honoree entering this year's tournament. Coleman was a first team all-tournament selection as a freshman. UNC's Ivory Latta and Erlana Larkins , NC State's Ashley Key and Khadijah Whittington and Duke's Abby Waner were voted to the first team. Joining Langhorne and Coleman on the second team were the Wolfpack's Gillian Goring, UNC's Camille Little and Duke's Alison Bales. The Terps await their NCAA Tournament fate until Monday, March 12 when the tournament brackets, seedings and locations are announced. It will be televised on ESPN.\

Doron, Langhorne Named Academic All-Americans
Doron earns Academic All-America honors for the second time

Maryland women's basketball players Shay Doron and Crystal Langhorne have made their marks in the record books and have carried that over into the classroom. Both were recently named ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Doron was named to the second team for the second-straight year, while Langhorne was a third team selection. Maryland was the only team in the ACC with any selections to the Academic All-America squad and the only team with with multiple selections. In her final season as a Terrapin, senior Shay Doron has excelled in the classroom since arriving on campus. A criminology and criminal justice major, she has been a member of the ACC Honor Roll every year while also earning All-ACC honors three times, including a first team selection as a sophomore. Doron was also voted to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-District 2 team three times, twice earning a spot on the first team. Ranked second all-time on Maryland 's career scoring list, Doron boasts a 3.67 grade point average and has been named to the Dean's List for six-consecutive semesters. First team All-ACC honoree junior Crystal Langhorne was a third team Academic All-American selection, earning national academic honors for the first time in her career. A communications major with a 3.4 grade point average, the United State Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and the Associated Press named her an All-American last year. Langhorne was a Dean's List student in the spring of 2006, after helping the Terps win the national championship. A three-time all-conference pick, Langhorne earned all-district honors twice and has been an ACC Honor Roll student-athlete ever year. Both Doron and Langhorne were named to the Academic All-ACC team last year, which takes into account academic and athletic excellence. Maryland has had 40 Academic All-Americans all-time. Last year, Doron became the first Terrapin women's basketball player to earn the honor. Maryland is ranked seventh in the latest AP poll and awaits its NCAA Tournament fate when the bracket is announced on Monday, March 12 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

No. 4 Tar Heels Outlast No. 5 Terps In ACC Tournament Semis, 78-72
Maryland (27-5) now awaits its NCAA Tournament fate

Notes:
- Four Terrapins scored in double figures. Marissa Coleman had 18 to lead the team. Crystal Langhorne had 16, Shay Doron had 13, and Kristi Toliver had 12. It is the 31st time in 32 games this season that at least three Terps have scored in double digits, and the 25th time that at least four Terps have scored ten or more.

- Crystal Langhorne scored 16 points in the game, giving her 1,685 in her career. She moves into third place on the Maryland all-time list, passing Christy Winters, who scored 1,679 from 1985-90.

- Shay Doron got the start for the 117th time in her career, matching a Maryland school record. She ties Marche Strickland, who started 117 games from 1999-2002.

- Doron's 13 points give her 1,848 in her career, still second on Maryland 's all-time points list. She is 80 points behind the team's all-time leader, Vicky Bullett, who was honored at today's game as an ACC Legend.

- Doron reached double figures in an ACC Tournament game for the first time since last year's quarterfinal victory over Georgia Tech, when she scored 12. Doron, whose best output in a tournament game came in 2004 when she scored 19 on Duke in the semifinals, scored 13 in today's game.

- Doron moved into seventh place on Maryland 's all-time assists chart with her three assists in the game. She now has 404 in her career. She passed Marcia Richardson, who had 402 from 1981-84.

- Kristi Toliver dished out four assists, bringing her season total to 149. Toliver now is tied for the ninth most assits in a season by a Terp with her teammate Shay Doron, whbo dished out 149 helpers in 2005-06.

- Laura Harper rejected two Tar Heel shots during the game, giving her 60 this season. She passed Kris Krichner, who had 59 blocks in 1979-80, for the third most blocks in a season by a Terrapin.

- Crystal Langhorne reached double figures for the ninth time in nine career ACC Tournament games. She finished this game with 16 points.

- Marissa Coleman, who poured in 18 points in the game, also has reached double figures in each of her five career ACC Tournament games.

- Coleman's 18 points were a career high for an ACC Tournament game. She set her previous high of 16 most recently yesterday in the quarterfinal victory over Georgia Tech.

Fourth-ranked North Carolina broke open a tied game with two minutes left and beat fifth-ranked Maryland 78-72 Saturday in the semifinals of the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum. The win sends the Tar Heels, the defending ACC champions, to the championship game set Sunday at 1 p.m. against N.C. State . "We didn't get rattled, and we made some big shots when we needed to," said North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell, whose team is now 29-3. Maryland , which never led, tied the game at 67-all on Kristi Toliver's jumper from the top of the key with 2:01 left on the clock. But North Carolina dominated the rest of the way. It started with point guard Ivory Latta finding LaToya Pringle open under the basket to take the lead for good with 1:34 remaining. "Coach called the play, I saw LaToya in there and I threw it to her," Latta said. Latta was then on the receiving end of an assist from teammate Alex Miller, who grabbed a crucial rebound with 1:05 left and Latta scored on an all-alone fast break. Pringle then partially blocked a shot by Shay Doron with 35 seconds left, and UNC salted away the win with four free throws by Latta, two by Miller and one by Little. Latta led the winners with 19 points, followed by Jessica Breland with 14, Erlana Larkins with 12, and Pringle and Camille Little with 11 each. North Carolina center Erlana Larkins chalked up a double-double with 10 rebounds to go with her dozen points. Maryland , now 27-5, put three different post players on Larkins throughout the game. "Sometimes it's Laura Harper, sometimes it's Langhorne, and sometimes it's Perry," Larkins said. "I'm a big woman, but three women coming at you the entire 40 minutes, it kind of wears you down." Hatchell had high praise for Larkins, noting, "I've called her many times my warrior, and she is. When we need her, she's there." Maryland coach Brenda Frese said, "It was just a tremendous game for both teams. We didn't want to go home, but I'm proud of our effort. A Final Four game--that's what it felt like." Maryland , the defending NCAA champion, trailed 37-30 at the half and by 10 points in the second half before mounting a furious rally to tie the game. "Jessica Breland was their X-factor today," Frese said. "It speaks volumes for their depth." Breland went 5-for-6 from the field and hit 3-of-4 free throws in just 16 minutes of play. "Jessica was a McDonald's High School All-America," Hatchell said. "Today was not a fluke. She's going to play like she did today and probably better." Doron said it was tough finishing her career without an ACC championship, but added if the Terps had to lose Saturday to win another national championship, she would take it. "I'm looking at the big picture," Doron said. Marissa Coleman led Maryland with 18 points and eight rebounds, followed by Crystal Langhorne with 16 points, Doron with 13 and Toliver with 12. Coleman said, "Toward the end of the game, we let them get some crucial rebounds." Hatchell said down the stretch, her Tar Heels showed mental toughness--and played as a team. "We had 20 assists out of 28 field goals made," Hatchell said, pointing out that's good team basketball. Hatchell said another key to the victory was having Little guard Toliver. "I was proud down the stretch when Maryland made their comeback, and we did a couple of things that really made a difference and were able to pull the game out. Maryland is so good at so many areas of the game. You take one thing away, they make up for it with something else. Those kids can shoot the lights out, especially Toliver and Shay and Coleman. They got hot at the end." The North Carolina coach said she watched most of N.C. State 's upset of Duke in the first semifinal. "Those kids from N.C. State --it was absolutely unbelievable," Hatchell said. "When they gave Kay (Yow) that award (after the game), the other head coaches, we were talking, and we decided that we are going to invest in a movie about these last few weeks for N.C. State, because it's been an incredible run for them. "Hopefully, some of that emotion will run out. We know we've got to play a great game tomorrow because N.C. State will be sky high."

Six National Champion Field Hockey Terps Named Academic All-ACC
Kristina Edmonds repeats

Six members of the National Champion field hockey team were named to the Academic All-ACC team, the Atlantic Coast Conference recently announced. Among the six honorees were Honda Award winner and National Player of the Year Paula Infante and first team All-American Kristina Edmonds. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.0 cumulative average during her academic year. A total of 31 student-athletes were selected to the academic all-conference squad. The six honorees are tied for the second most of any of the six teams. Senior Paula Infante, a Physical Education major, was named the national player of the year for the second-straight season. Senior Kristina Edmonds is on the team for the second-straight year. She is a Kinesiology major and was also an All-ACC performer this season. Sisters Ameliet and Berber Rischen, Emily Trycinski and Kim Ziegler were also named to the team. A junior, Ameliet is a Biological Sciences major and Berber is a graduate student at the Smith School of Business. As a freshman, Ameliet started in 22 of the Terps' 25 games and scored six goals. Berber transferred from Kent State University to complete her collegiate eligibility. She started in every game, scoring seven goals and dishing out 11 assists, which ranked second on the team. She was also named Mid Atlantic All-Region. Trycinski scored the only goal in the championship game vs. Wake Forest , giving Maryland its second-straight NCAA title. A kinesiology major, she tallied a career-high seven goals in her final season as a Terrapin. Ziegler is an engineering biology major and also scored a career high five goals on the season, making 10 starts.

Eight Field Hockey Terps Earn National Academic Recognition
Terps garner the most academic squad members in the ACC

Eight members of the NCAA Champion Maryland field hockey team were earned a place on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. Junior Kendall Beveridge and senior Megan Fox are on the team for the third-consecutive year. Maryland is one of 55 NCAA Division I field hockey squads who have achieved a team grade point average of 3.0 or above for the fall 2006 semester. To be eligible for the National Academic Squad, a student-athlete must have achieved at least a 3.0 for the fall 2006 semester. Kendall Beveridge is a marketing and business management major and earned a 4.0 in the fall. Megan Fox also earned a 4.0 in marketing and business management. The two are the 17th and 18th players in the history of the program to be named to the National Academic Squad at least three times. Sophomore Sarah Scholl and redshirt-sophomore Kimberly Ziegler earn the academic honor for the second time. A letters and sciences major, Scholl earned a 3.15 GPA, while starting 19 of 25 games for the Terps on the forward line. Ziegler, also a forward, earned a 3.71 GPA in biological engineering in the fall and scored a career-high five goals on the season. She was recently named to the Academic All-ACC team. First time honorees are freshman Kate Effland, freshman Kristina Foster, freshman Alicia Morawski and sophomore Danielle Keeley. Five Terrapins in all earned 4.0 GPA's during the fall semester, while also capturing the 2006 NCAA Championship. Seniors Emily Trycinski and Honda Award winner and National Player of the Year Paula Infante were among the five. Both were also recently selected Academic All-ACC.

RIVERDALE BAPTIST MARCH MADNESS

Coming up on March 17th Riverdale Baptist will be hosting their own â¤¦March Madnessâ¤? with an auction, baseball tournament, celebrity athletes, Dunk Tank and door prizes. Special guests will include Orlandis Gary (Riverdale grad and great running back with the Denver Broncos); Reggie Williams ( Georgetown U. and Denver Nugget star and a host of others). Autographed memorabilia include a Darrell Green football, vacation and spa packages, sporting event tickets, etc. Time of the event is 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., silent auction is from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., live auction at 4:00 p.m. For more information contact Lisa Colmus at 301-249-7000 ext 151 or 1colmus@rbschool.org Proceeds to benefit the new RHS athletic complex. Come to the Crusaders Field House Gym, 1133 Largo Road , Upper Marlboro on March 17th for a great event and great time.

Wishing all our loyal customers a Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2007

Lots of fun at Killarney House and Galway Bay all week
starting March 11th thru March 18th
Reservations for lunch and dinner highly recommend for Saint Patrick's Day

Entertainment Line up at
Killarney House
Sun 11th: St. Pats Brunch with dancers at 2:30
Mon 12th: "Neighbor Night" Ray Weaver
Tues 13th: TIPSC in pub
Wed 14th: Angie Miller
Thur 15th: Ray Weaver
Fri 16th: Jordan Page

SATURDAY 17TH
TIPSC
Ray Weaver
Ray Murphy and the Irish Rovers

Sun 18th: St. Pats Brunch with dancers at 2:30

Also are you planning a group event at your home?
Don't forget our special Corned Beef and Cabbage Meals "To Go"
prepared at either restaurant and will feed up to Ten Guests $89.99

Slainte

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, I just wanted take a few moments and let everyone know that the "So You Wanna Be a Sports Talk Show Host" contest at WNST-1570 has concluded. Unfortunately, I did not win the contest. However, there is certainly no shame in finishing in the "Final 4" when considering over 100 applicants. To be honest, I've been through enough processes that were "fixed". It was truly refreshing to be part of something legitimate. The truth is the best performer won. I was incredibly impressed by Mike Popovec's routine. But, he's a pro and has been at the craft for nearly 10 years - and, yes, he's only 26 !!!!!! As the website (www.wnst.net) indicates, there are no losers. I've been offered a position at the radio station. Specifically, I've been offered a Sunday morning show. I would emphasize on NASCAR through August, and switch gears for the Ravens 2007 campaign, in September. This gig would also entail a "Daily NASCAR Minute" heard during the week, as well as my own blog. Needless to say, this is a very generous offer. I want to take these final moments to thank each of you for supporting me in this endeavor. I'd like to ad a special thanks to Jason Jubb, who really worked in partnership with me in the two months. He recorded all of the musical CD's, as well as my initial demo disc. We've had countless phone calls, back and forth, regarding the contest. Thanks, Jubb.

Finally, I've realized that communications is my "thing". I'm preparing a package for dissemination to corporations and government agencies throughout the area. No offense, but I could SMOKE the spokesmen for ANY of the major metro police departments. I just need a chance. Unfortunately, spokesmen positions commonly go to someone who's befriended the boss. Or, in some other cases (AAPD ?), a handsome guy who's less articulate than Billy Bob Thornton, in "Sling Blade". It's not what you say ..... it's how you say it. By the way ...... the Orioles will be BAD again, this year. For anyone who's listened to me, then you'll know my opinion on the bullpen. It will let them down. As for the Ravens, they're winners and will continue to be. Stay tuned. Rex

Hi Bill, Also, the Steve Ports Trio will be at: The Au Pointin Stil (Irish Pub) in Timonium on March 16; and Castlebay Irish Pub in Annapolis on St. Patricks Day (March 17). I hope all is well with you!!! Steve

Dear Steve, A little depressed but otherwise okay. Bill

Bill, Happened on your site by accident when I went to ask.com to see if I could find out why Don Rickles was once known as Don "Glasshead" Rickles. Skimmed the material on Sports Beat and started seeing all kinds of nostalgia from my days as a kid on northeast Florida Ave. in DC. My older brother delivered the Daily News. Earliest sports reporting I remember was Shirley Povich. Also used to read the ads for entertainment headliners at the 14th St NW clubs. That was late 1940's and that is where I remember seeing ads (Blue Mirror club, I think) for comedian Don "Glasshead" Rickles. Couldn't figure out what it meant then and still can't today. But I was amazed to confirm very recently that the Don Rickles we all know and love today is one and the same from postwar Washington , DC . I am in Houston , Texas now but I will continue to check out St. Marys Today. I finished growing up in Clinton, Surrattsville class of 1953. My best regards to you and yours Duke Coleman

Dear Duke, He used to put a large fishbowl on his head! He played the Merryland Club at 1405 â¤¦Lâ¤? Street, NW in downtown DC. I believe it was Oliva Davis who owned the club. Bill

SPORTS NOTES

John Mappas, who had a decent season on his return as menâ¤s basketball coach at Chesapeake College on the Eastern Shore, was a recent visitor to Southern Maryland and he had a celebrity chauffer driving him from the shore and on his tour. I understand the pro wrestling/musical team the â¤¦Insane Clown Posseâ¤? is making a comeback and will be at the Baltimore Rams Head on March 15th. Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Clem Labine, an outstanding pitcher on the Dodgers in the 1950â¤s. Cecil won the Maryland menâ¤s JUCO championship beating Allegany 88-78 in the title game. Thom Loverro has another top book out called â¤¦Hail Victory â¤³ An Oral History of the Washington Redskinsâ¤?. Well Mickey Vernon, Gil Hodges and Jim Kaat lost out again when the â¤¦Hall of Shameâ¤? Veterans Committee didnâ¤t select them or for that matter anyone. Since 61 Hall of Famers are on the committee of 84 why not remove three of them from the Hall every time the committee doesnâ¤t select someone and also remove the 14 broadcasters and 8 writers and replace them on the committee. Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Robert Antonetti, Sr., former head of the elections board of Prince George â¤s and Howard Counties . Also to the family of Herman Brix who played Tarzan in the movies and later changed his name to Bruce Bennett. Harvard fired menâ¤s basketball coach Frank Sullivan, Illinois State fired menâ¤s roundball coach Porter Moser and there will be more to follow. If these and other schools are smart they would come after John Mappas, John Wiley, Bill Lewitt or Villa Julieâ¤s coach Brett Adams all are ready to move up. The Pittsburgh Penguins are rumored headed to Kansas City . Why not Baltimore ? The State High School playoffs are this weekend. Villa Julie College menâ¤s basketball team lost to Johns Hopkins 84-72 after leading by 18 at the half. Guests on my â¤¦Inside Sportsâ¤? TV show were Paul Wilson, new owner of the Washington Glory (fast pitch womenâ¤s softball team) who graduated from Frederick HS and Christa Dalakis, a catcher and outfielder who graduated from George Mason University (she also plays on the Greek National team and is founder and owner of Tysonâ¤s Corner based â¤¦Breakaway Fitnessâ¤?). Coming up on April 25th at Michaelâ¤s 8th Avenue itâ¤s a live auction to benefit Anne Arundel County â¤s â¤¦Take Back our Streetsâ¤?, art, sports, music memorabilia and more up for auction. For more information call 410-766-7723. The â¤¦Oldtimers Baseball Associationâ¤? will be holding their â¤¦Spring Danceâ¤? on April 25th at the Del Capri. For more information call Howie Meyers at 410-538-3827. The regular meeting of "Talkin' Baseball" will be held on Saturday, March 10 at 9AM at Barnes and Noble, 4300 Montgomery Rd. ( Longate Shopping Center ) in Ellicott City , MD. Our speaker will be Ted Leavengood who will discuss his book "The 2005 Washington Nationals: Baseball returns to Washington , DC ". Come with a friend. Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Larry Politz (Coolidge 1958). Also our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the following: Doris Hess Russell ( Holy Cross Academy grad) Hazel Reynolds (Central HS (DC) grad) Craig Williams (Anacostia HS grad) Adalius Thomas Ravens to New England Tony Pashos Ravens to Jacksonville Ovie Mughelli Ravens to Atlanta All three big losses to the Ravens despite the Ravens denying it. Its iffy with Jamal Lewis staying also. I wonder how Harpo feels about those moves?

BULLDOGS VICTORIOUS OVER JOHNSON C. SMITH
Bowie State Advances to Tournament Semi-finals

Bowie State fought off a gallant defensive effort by Johnson C. Smith to defeat the third seeded Golden Bulls, 68-62, Thursday night to advance to the semi-finals of the CIAA Basketball Tournament at the Charlotte Bobcat Arena. The win ups Bowie State â¤s record to 19-10 and ends Johnson C. Smithâ¤s season at 16-9. Entering the contest as the sixth seed in the tournament, the Bulldogs led for all but 38 seconds of the first half. JCSU broke the third tie of the first half with a 4-0 run in the final minute to take a 30-26 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Golden Bulls faced a key loss early in the game when CIAA Rookie of the Year Jerry Hollis went down with an ankle injury. Ryan Scott picked up the slack for JCSU, leading all scorers at the half with 10 points. BSUâ¤s Tyronne Beale and Orlando Wright each contributed nine points for the Bulldogs but CIAA Player of the Year Gil Goodrich was held scoreless at the half. In the second half, Bowie State made an adjustment which allowed Goodrich to run the offense and become more involved. Bowie State out-rebounded Johnson C. Smith 25-13 in the second half, which set up more second chance opportunities. Without Hollis in the game for JCSU, the Golden Bulls had limited offensive options in the second period. Goodrich got involved by scoring as well as getting his teammates the ball in scoring position. With 4:10 left to play, Wright would hit a critical three point basket that would put Bowie State up 56-54, and the Bulldogs would not trail again in the contest. Beale had a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds before picking up his fifth foul. Goodrich finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists; despite having nine turnovers and shooting just 16 percent (two-of-12) from the field. Joshua Johnson was also productive for the Bulldogs, contributing 11 points and nine rebounds. The Golden Bulls had only two players finish with double figure points. Scott finished with 13 points and Edmund Rainey added 11 points and nine rebounds.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL ENDS BOWIE STATE'S SEASON

North Carolina Central gave its head coach, Joli Robinson, a nice birthday gift on Friday - a CIAA semifinal victory over Bowie State . Robinson celebrated her birthday by watching her Lady Eagles take a 76-65 win at Charlotte Bobcats Arena to reach the CIAA championship game for the first time since 2001. The top-seeded Lady Eagles led from start to finish in improving their record to 24-5 overall. With victory well in hand, the fans sang "Happy Birthday" to an elated Robinson in the closing minutes. After the game, the cheerleaders also serenaded Robinson with a birthday song before she walked happily off the court. The play of her team also put the NCCU coach in a good mood. They jumped on the Lady Bulldogs from the beginning and held a double-digit lead for much of the first half. Though the Lady Bulldogs stayed within stiking distance at times in the second half, the Lady Eagles were too talented and too deep. "I anticipated that the Lady Bulldogs would battle hard," Robinson said. "But we did what we needed to do at the beginning [of the game]." As usual the Lady Eagles were led by their contingent of talented players. Cassie King scored a game-high 25 points and LaQuanda Williams added 14 points. Jasmine Newkirk chipped in 12 points and LaVonna Hailey and Jori Nwachukwu both contributed 9 points each. Bowie State Head Coach Doug Robertson was one of the few people in the arena who wanted to spoil Robinson's birthday, but he has the utmost respect for her. Robertson also has respect for his fifth-seeded Lady Bulldogs, who dressed nine players. Standout forward Allyson Swailes sat much of the second half as Robertson went with a smaller lineup, yet the Lady Eagles couldn't put them away. After trailing by double digits most of the game, the Lady Bulldogs pulled within seven points at 61-54 with 4:09 left but that was as close as they would get. "Our players were fatigue a little but a game such as this, with media timeouts, helped us," Robertson said. Sherika Thomas scored 21 points and Markeya Watson added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs, who finished their season at 18-11. Genet Moore added 14 points, including 4 of 7 3-pointers, for the Lady Bulldogs, who shot 50 percent from the floor. But the Lady Bulldogs allowed the Lady Eagles to shoot 50 percent. "When we decided to go small, we thought we could force them into a jump shooting game, but they penetrated to the basket," Robertson said. The penetration helped the Lady Eagles get to the free throw line 28 times where they made 21. The Lady Bulldogs were 8 of 15 from the free-throw line. The Lady Bulldogs also committed 24 turnovers which the Lady Eagles converted to 22 points. In the end, the Lady Eagles had too much talent, depth and motivation.

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