Nov. 20, 2010
Final Stats
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville State Lady Broncos have embarked on one of the toughest nonconference starts to the 2010-11 basketball season in all of Division II.
And in that start, they are still searching for their first victory.
Five players scored in double figures as 22nd-ranked Barton College, the preseason choice to win the Conference Carolinas for the third straight season, downed the Lady Broncos 88-59 on Saturday at Felton J. Capel Arena.
Barton's Jamila Johnson led all players with 17 points, eight assists and five steals while Janetta Robinson added 13 points, Shawnta Shelton 11 and Nyesha Willie and Jolanda Mitchell had 10 apiece. Janae Jackson led the Lady Bulldogs with 10 rebounds to go with eight points.
Fayetteville State's Tiffany Haywood (Sr., Fayetteville, NC), a preseason All-CIAA selection, had 12 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Lady Broncos (0-3) for her second double-double of the season. LaQuasha Jordan (Jr., Greenville, NC), also a preseason All-CIAA choice, added 11 points to go with four rebounds. Phantasia Coe (Fr., Charlotte, NC) added eight points while Amanda Sinclair (Jr., Red Springs, NC) chipped in seven points.
The Lady Bulldogs (2-0) began the 2010-11 season ranked 22nd nationally in the NCAA D-II Bulletin Poll after returning four starters from a team that finished last season 22-6 overall and 21-1 in the league. Barton ran off a school-record 18-game win streak during which they outscored their foes by 22.8 points per game.
Barton came out firing on Saturday, racing out to a 15-4 lead thanks to six quick points from Shawnta Shelton and a 3-pointer from Alex Williams. The Lady Broncos (0-3) fought their way back in it, however, shaking off foul trouble to respond with a 7-0 midway through the half that was capped by a nice pass from Haywood to Jordan for a deep 3-pointer. That spurt trimmed the deficit to six, 25-18, and FSU was in the game.
But the Lady Bulldogs quickly regained control. Willie made a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play within a span of 20 seconds, and then Johnson buried a corner 3. The 9-0 run needed just 71 seconds total to complete, and handed Barton a 33-18 lead. Barton ran the stretch to a 13-2 advantage to take its biggest lead to that point, 37-22, with 5:43 left in the half.
Still, the Lady Broncos lingered, getting a double-double by halftime from Haywood, who finished with game-highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds at the break. But Barton scored five points late in the period to stretch its lead to 47-29 at the half.
Barton kept the pressure on from there, holding FSU without a field goal for nearly 8 minutes to start the second half. The Lady Bulldogs used a 7-1 run in that span to take a 54-30 lead with just over 16 minutes remaining.
The Lady Bulldogs built on things from there, taking their largest lead at 73-43 with 6:06 remaining.
As the Lady Broncos prepared for Barton and then UNC Pembroke (Saturday, Nov. 27, 2 p.m. at Capel Arena), Fayetteville State head coach Eva Patterson-Heath said playing the tough nonconference schedule is by design.
"We have a very, very tough nonconference schedule," she said. "They are all strong programs and will help us identify our weaknesses and narrow our focus as we prepare for the CIAA schedule."
After the Lady Broncos take on Pembroke, they will again face Barton on the road on Dec. 11 in Wilson, NC.
