Nov. 23, 2009
Final Stats
FAYETTEVILLE - What a difference a year makes.
The last time the Fayetteville State and Bowie State women's basketball teams met at Capel Arena, BSU junior Kiana Lee sank a three-pointer as time expired to give BSU the win.
On Monday, FSU sophomore center Deja Middleton's put back with 25 seconds left helped give the Broncos a 73-70 win over the Bulldogs.
In the game's final minute, Middleton sank the game-winning shot, made two crucial free throws and deflected BSU's inbound pass on its final possession, to seal the FSU victory.
"I just know that I needed to do something because I didn't feel that I was playing very well," Middleton said. "I was missing open layups and I felt like I had to do something for us to win."
"She can't tell me anymore that she can't jump," first-year head coach Eva Patterson-Heath said of Middleton. "I saw her out-jump a lot of people and she was quick off the floor."
FSU's win snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. The Broncos' last win against BSU was an 101-89 victory at BSU on Feb. 3, 2007. In fact, FSU hadn't beaten BSU in Capel Arena since an 89-82 win on Jan. 11, 2007.
BSU (1-3, 1-1 CIAA) was picked to win the CIAA's Eastern Division by the league's coaches.
"I had a bad taste in my mouth from last year," said forward Tiffany Haywood. "Losing to them by 30 and then they got us with the buzzer beater. I just knew we had to get them today."
Senior guard L'oreal Price scored a team-high 21 points and has led FSU (2-1, 1-0 CIAA) in scoring in each of its first three contests.
Middleton had her first double-double of the season, collecting 10 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes of play. Haywood had a career-high 20 points and pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds.
The Broncos have won 10 of their last 12 games at Capel Arena.
"This was a very, very big win for us," Patterson-Heath said. "We were at home and we have to take care of our home court."
"We have to win at home and defend at home," she said. "This is a very competitive conference and you just have to take care of home because it's not going to be easy on the road."
FSU committed 34 turnovers and has 30 or more in each of its first three games.
After a Price free throw gave the Broncos a 45-44 lead with 14:12 left in the second half, the Bulldogs went on a 10-3 run to open up a seven point lead. Haywood scored 10 points in the final eight minutes to help keep FSU within striking distance.
Danielle Russell added 12 points, five assits and four rebounds for FSU.
Teaunsha Robinson had a game-high 25 points for BSU and was one of three Bulldogs in double figures. Lee had 15 points and Lakisha Walker tallied 16 points.
The Broncos travel to Virginia Union on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
