Bulldogs Fall in Opener of the 2002 Best Western Holiday Classic

BOWIE, MD, ----It was a bad day for teams in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the opening round of the 2002 Best Western Holiday Classic Tournament.

The host Lady Bulldogs of Bowie State University fell to Cheyney University, 59-53, in the opener, then watched as conference foe St. Augustine's College went down to the Tars of Rollins College, 79-27.

The Bulldogs will face the Lady Falcons at 2 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the championship game between the Tars and Lady Wolves at 4 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed 54-53 with 4:06 left in the game after an Allyson Hardy jumper, but the Bulldogs would not score after that as they would turn the ball over five times down the stretch. The Bulldogs (3-5) shot just 33 percent from the field, including a 2-for-16 performance from behind the arc, while turning the ball over 21 times.

Leketia Berry and Hardy would pace the Bulldogs with 10 points apiece while Rachill Robinson yanked down 10 rebounds.

The Lady Wolves (5-2) were led by Lakemia Smith, who had 17 points, Jewel Williams chipped in with 11 while Tonya Slayton had 10 points and 16 rebounds.

In the nightcap, the Tars (8-1) held the Lady Falcons scoreless for the first seven and a half minutes of the first half, building their lead to 16-0 at that juncture. They would lead 44-14 at the break and cruise on in to the win in the second half.

Shannon Pranger paced the Tars with 17 points, Jennie Brown had 13 and Gabrielle Blankenfield added 10 points and five assists. Nicole Warder added six assists before fouling out late in the contest.

The Lady Falcons (4-5) shot an anemic 13 percent for the game and their high scorer was Dana Atkins, who finished with seven points.