Jan. 2, 2010

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - Before its 72-65 win over Elizabeth City State on Saturday, the Fayetteville State women's basketball team hadn't played a game in more than 504 hours.

The long layoff didn't hurt the Broncos (5-3, 3-1 CIAA). FSU used a 19-0 second-half run to down conference-foe ECSU for the fourth straight time.

"They made it up in their minds that they were going to play good defense," first-year head coach Eva Patterson-Heath said. "We got the opportunity to run and we took advantage of it - and kept running."

FSU had 14 fast break points and harassed ECSU (6-3, 2-3 CIAA) into 23 turnovers.

"I'd like to run more," said Patterson-Heath. "A lot of times we're in a hurry. I want us to be quick, but not in a hurry and we haven't been able to discern between the two."

L'oreal Price and Danielle Russell, who makeup FSU's starting backcourt, combined for 35 points and were the only Broncos in double-digits. In her first start of the season, LaQuasha Jordan had nine points while sophomore center Deja Middleton had four points, 11 rebounds and a game-high four blocks.

"They're seniors and they know this is their last hoorah," Patterson-Heath said of Russell and Price. "We're at home and we want to defend our home court -- accomplishing that starts with the backcourt."

Kearah Jefferys paced the Vikings with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field while Shaquella Johnson contributed 14 points.

Patterson-Heath said the FSU win was validation towards the Broncos' season goals.

"I told our team that we had three losses in December, but this is 2010 now," she said. "It's time to step up and play basketball the Lady Bronco way."

The Broncos host St. Paul's on Monday at 5:30 p.m. inside Capel Arena.

FSU trailed 37-30 at halftime and by as much 10 in the first half. The Broncos are 4-0 at Capel Arena this season.