North Carolina Central University

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

RALEIGH - North Carolina Central University standout Cassie King set the school career scoring mark as the Lady Eagles edged Georgia College & State University 51-48 Friday in a NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional first-round game at Shaw University's Spaulding Gym.

The fourth-seeded Lady Eagles (23-6 overall) face top-seeded Shaw Saturday in the semifinals, the third meeting between both CIAA schools. Shaw won the previous two contests, including a victory last week in the CIAA Tournament semifinals. Georgia College & State, seeded No. 5, ends its season at 17-14.

King, a junior forward, scored 15 points to move one point ahead of former Lady Eagles' star Monica Stewart (1990-1994) with 1,608 points. She also grabbed 12 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season to lead her team past GC&SU in a game that wasn't decided until the closing seconds.

Natasha Bailey made two free throws with 11 seconds left to give the Lady Eagles a 50-48 lead after Cassie Miliner of the Lady Bobcats tied the contest with a free throw after a technical foul on an NCCU player.

After Bailey's free throws, the Lady Eagles forced two turnovers before Karla Gamble of NCCU made one free throw for the final margin with a second remaining. GC&SU's inbound pass sailed out of bounds and the Lady Eagles' ran out the final second.

LaWanna Leon led the Lady Bobcats with 17 points and eight rebounds. Porschia Holmes added 10 points for the Lady Eagles.

Both teams combined for 32 three-point attempts with GC&SU shooting 3-for-20. NCCU made two three-pointers, but scored 26 points in the paint. 

Written by Anthony Jeffries

N.C. Central-Georgia College & State University quotes 

NCCU coach Joli Robinson

General Comments:
"We did a good job getting the ball inside in the first half. We wanted to do the same thing in the second half." 

On Cassie King breaking the school career scoring mark:
"It's great for the school and great for her. She works hard, but her main concern is about wins." 

On technical foul against N.C. Central in closing seconds:
"She said one of our players pushed their players but I wasn't aware of it."

On playing Shaw:
"Sometimes we get shell-shocked against Shaw. We just need to go out and play." 

Cassie King
On breaking the school career scoring record:
"I am more excited that we won." 

Natasha Bailey
On last second free throws to give N.C. Central the lead:
"There was no pressure. I knew what I had to do. I'm a senior. That's what I'm supposed to do."
 

GC&SU coach John Carrick

General Comments:
"[The officials] had nothing to do with layups we missed. We take responsibility for being three points worse than them."

On shooting 20 three-pointers:
"You can't make them unless you shoot them."

LaWanna Leon
"We weren't blocking out, weren't shooting well."