Fayetteville, NC (February 5, 2022) – Fayetteville State women's basketball outscored CIAA Southern Division leader Johnson C. Smith 11-7 in the overtime period to secure a 76-72 victory in Capel Arena. The Broncos (11-8 overall) now have the highest conference win percentage (0.727) in the division with an 8-3 record. FSU is 4-2 in the division. The loss gives the Golden Bulls its first defeat in the division (5-1) and a 7-4 (0.636 win-percentage) conference record. JCSU is 12-7 overall.
FSU's
Rasheka Simmons led the victory with a double-double of a game-high 21 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Aniylah Bryant poured in 19 points and
Keayna McLaughlin scored a dozen.
Both teams went at each other from jump ball with a 26-20 first quarter in favor of Johnson C. Smith. The Golden Bulls were 10-of-20 in field goals and 4-of-6 in three-pointers in the first quarter alone. FSU was 8-of-15 and 3-of-5. Johnson C. Smith led by as many as 12 at the 2:37 mark.
The Broncos opened the second quarter with a 5-0 to cut the score to 26-25 and held on to trail by two (35-33) at the half.
Both teams had identical scoring in the final two quarters with JCSU scoring 15 and FSU 16. With a one-point lead (50-49) after three quarters, Johnson C. Smith pushed its way to a five-point lead (60-55) with a little over five minutes left in regulation.
The takeover mentality of Simmons would help the Broncos tie the game at 60 with a minute-twenty on the clock. She would spark the five-point run with a jumper and then sink a pair of free throws for the tie.
Three-of-four free throws by JCSU would set the score at 63-60 with 18 seconds left. Out of a quick Bronco timeout, Bryant drilled a three to knot the score, but an early foul and free throws would call for another timeout for FSU, trailing by two with 14 seconds left.
Imani Elliott drew a foul, driving to the basket with 10 seconds left, and sent the game into overtime with the pair of free throws.
Fayetteville State put up four unanswered points to open the extra period before the game reached its 10
th tie with 1:16 left.
Simmons' steal at 49 seconds would lead to a fast break basket by Bryant and her defensive rebound would help Elliott to the line for the four-point advantage with 12 seconds to go.
Shaniya Jones led Johnson C. Smith with 19 points. Aubriana Bonner, Ciara Harris, and Mahley Holit each scored 14 points. Bonner had the game-high 12 rebounds.
Fayetteville State will host the make-up against Bowie State on Monday at 2:00 pm in Capel Arena.
