Bulldogs Take Down Defending CIAA Champions

PETERSBURG, VA, ---The Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs came out with their "A" game Saturday afternoon and showed the defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion Trojanettes of Virginia State University what they are capable of.

In what has been a Jekyll and Hyde kind of year, the Bulldogs could have been either as they put on a monster performance while fending off the Trojanettes, 67-59.

The Bulldogs shot 53 percent from the field (29-54) while holding the Trojanettes to a 17-61 shooting performance as they improved to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the CIAA on their modest two-game winning streak.

Allyson Hardy had the kind of game they needed from their sophomore point guard as she hit 12-of-17 shots for 28 points, dished eight assists and pestered the Trojanettes to the tune of five steals. With two baskets and an assist she started a 6-2 run at the end of the first half that gave the Bulldogs a 10-point edge at the break. She scored the first five points of a Bulldogs' 10-0 run to start the second half that pushed the Bulldogs lead to 42-22 with 17 and a half minutes left in the contest.

"It was one of those days when it was like throwing the ball in the ocean," said Hardy. "Hopefully this was a carryover from our last game and it will continue."

The Bulldogs held their biggest lead of the game at 57-30 with 10:54 to play. Becky McKee converted a conventional three-point-play 10 seconds later, which was the Trojanettes first field goal of the second half, then Tiffany Thomas hit a three-pointer which seemed to give the Trojanettes life.

The Trojanettes (5-5, 1-1) would methodically chip away at the Bulldogs lead and climbed to within 63-55 with 2:50 to play. Two Leketia Berry layups pushed the Bulldogs lead to 10 points and the Bulldogs would hold on for the win.

Berry had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Shari Burgess and Kenyail Johnson had 9 points apiece.
For the Trojanettes, McKee finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Thomas had 12 and Tiffany Allen pitched in with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs will start a stretch of five home games in eight days beginning with the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.