Benedict sweeps SIAC basketball tournament titles
Benedict, in just its second year in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, swept both the men's and women's titles at the league's 2004 basketball tournament in Albany, Ga., this past weekend.The third-seeded Benedict men (19-8) needed overtime to subdue regular season winner and defending champion Morehouse, 89-86 in the men's final after the sixth-seeded Lady Tigers (16-13) held off Tuskegee in the women's final, 56-55.
The wins vaulted both teams into the NCAA Div. II South Regional by virtue of automatic berths that come from winning their respective tournaments.
In the women's final, a 15-footer from Benedict guard Shaunna Armstrong with 7.5 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. It was the final blow in a nip-and-tuck battle that saw Tuskegee battle back from a seven-point deficit late to take the lead in the final two minutes.
Kim Cue and center Christie Yusef led Benedict with 12 points apiece. Cue was named the tournament's most valuable player. Ashley Howard scored 15 for Tuskegee (20-10) while Nicole Dailey added 12.
The Benedict men upset top-seeded Morehouse to win its first conference title since 1961.
Dazzling point guard Eugene Jackson threw in 30 points getting key baskets throughout the game but it was a three-pointer by guard Pete Asmond that allowed the Tigers to get to overtime.
Jackson was chosen as the tournament's most valuable player.
Morehouse (25-4) was led by 21 points from Brandon Childs and Ronald Thompson and 20 from Darius Wade.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.