UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
ALL OUT: All twelve black college NCAA Div. II playoff basketball teams that entered regional play beginning Friday were eliminated over the weekend, with none reaching the final round. The only top seed, the Lady Bears of Shaw (28-3) who hosted the South Atlantic Regional in Raleigh, N.C., were one of the first to be eliminated going out in opening round play Friday to Augusta State. Other first round losers were the men of the University of the District of Columbia, Virginia Union, Benedict and Morehouse. Benedict and West Virginia State joined Shaw as women's losers in the first round. After winning their first round quarterfinal games, losers in the regional semifinals were the women of Virginia Union and Fort Valley State, and the men of Bowie State, Cheyney and West Virginia State. Here are the recaps:
MEN
SOUTH REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
SOUTH REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
Henderson State 71, Morehouse 51
HSU went on a 22-2 second half run after Morehouse took a 39-38 lead to subdue the Maroon Tigers (24-7). MC cut the lead to 10 at 61-51 but HSU scored the game's final ten points.
Rollins 88, Benedict 79
The BC Tigers battled gamely, making up a 43-36 halftime lead and leading briefly in the second half before falling to Rollins. Eugene Jackson led four Tigers in double figures with 20 points.
EAST REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
W. Va. State 80, District of Columbia 69
WVSC (25-5) got 37 points from Mike Taylor in downing UDC (18-10) who played without leading scorers Rashiem Wright (26.9 ppg.) and Dion Thompson who were among four players declared ineligible by UDC prior to the contest.
Cheyney 76, California (Pa.) 59
Cheyney limited California (Pa.) to 23% second half shooting to break from a 35-all halftime tie. The Wolves (23-7) had four players in double figures led by Anthony Frazier's 15.
Semifinals
Alderson-Broadhurst 87, W. Va. State 71
Alderson-Broadhurst shot 60% for the game and placed five players in double figures to knock out WVSC (25-6). The Yellow Jackets were led by 29 points from Christopher Dunn and 21 from Mike Taylor.
Pfeiffer 121, Cheyney 101
Top-seeded Pfeiffer scored 65 first half points and connected on 17 of 37 three-pointers to out gun Cheyney (23-8). The Wolves shot 55% from the floor and had one more field goal (36-35) but could not match Pfeiffer from long range. Frazier's 32 points and 12 rebounds led the Wolves.
SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
Bowie State 86, Lenoir-Rhyne 81
The backcourt of Allen Van Norden (22) and Anton Jennifer (19) combined for 41 points and hit key baskets and free throws down the stretch in the win for the third-seeded Bulldogs (23-5). Lee Cook added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Columbus State 77, Virginia Union 75
Yandel Brown's off-balance three-pointer with five seconds left was the game-winner as the fourth-seeded Panthers (25-5) fell. Brown finished with 31 points. Antwon Walton led VUU with 20 points while Ralph Brown had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Semifinals
Francis Marion 95, Bowie State 78
Francis Marion got 83 points from its four double-figure scorers to oust Bowie State (23-6). Jennifer (20) and Van Norden (23) again led the Bulldogs who played their second game without power forward Shawn Hampton.
WOMEN
SOUTH REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
Fort Valley State 79, Central Arkansas 77
Amanda Ray's driving layup was the difference in the Lady Wildcats (24-6) thrilling win. Sherika Tarpkins finished with 34 points while Carone Harris chipped in 20.
Rollins 51, Benedict 42
Benedict (16-14) battled top-seeded Rolllins all the way, cutting a 19-15 halftime lead to one four times in the second half. Kim Cue's 18 points paced the Lady Tigers. Rosa Coleman added 13.
Semifinals
Henderson State 60, Fort Valley State 42
After trailing by just 22-20 at the half, FVSU shot only 12.5% in the second half in falling to seventh-seeded Henderson State. The Lady Wildcats finished shooting just 19% for the game. Tarpkins was held to 14 points while Ray had seven points and a team-high 11 boards.
EAST REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
Glenville State 74, W. Va. State 64
WVSC scored the game's first basket and did not lead thereafter in falling to Glenville State. The Lady Jackets tied the score at 34 but then gave up a 9-0 run and never got closer than six. Carmela Suggs' 19 points and 18 from LaRhonda Garrett paced WVSC (22-9).
SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL - Quarterfinals
Virginia Union 68, Lander 66
Pria Stellmacher's put back jumper with less than a second to play gave the Lady Panthers (24-6) the win. The final two of Stellmacher's 18 points culminated a 13-5 run that closed the game for the Lady Panthers. Danielle Hoggard had 20 points and 13 rebounds to pace VUU.
Augusta State 81, Shaw 64
Eighth-seeded Augusta State jumped out to a 46-32 halftime lead and knocked out host and top-seed Shaw. The Lady Bears (28-3) converted only nine of 20 free throw attempts and could only get within six in the second half. Jessica Hawkins led Shaw with 13 points.
Semifinals
Ga. Coll. & State Univ. 71, Virginia Union 61
GCSU ran out to a 42-24 halftime lead and held off a late charge to send VUU home. Hoggard had 15 points and Sharon Atkins 14 to pace VUU.
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