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Posted: Jan 04, 2009

UDC Defeats Chowan to Win New Year’s Classic

Washington, DC: January 4, 2009—The new year could not have gotten off to a better start for the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women’s Basketball Team, as they won their own 2009 New Year’s  Classic this afternoon by defeating the Chowan University Hawks, 64-52, in the Physical Activities Center. UDC also defeated Mercy College, 73-67, on Saturday in the first game of the Classic.

In the second game of the Classic on Saturday, Chowan University defeated Columbia Union College 67-38, and in game three today, Mercy College defeated Columbia Union 91-44.

In Saturday’s  UDC/Mercy game, sophomore center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) led all scorers with an 18 point, 13-rebound, double-double performance. Four UDC players were in double figures, including McGill. The others were senior guard LaQuanda Brandon (Washington, DC) with a off- the- bench 15 point, 3 rebound game, senior forward Deyshia Williams (Camden, NJ), who scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds, and senior guard Devaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ) with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Senior guard Christina Baxter led the Mercy scoring in Saturday’s game, with 14 points. She was joined in double figures by freshman forward MarQuesha Moore with 12 points, freshman guard Simone Williams and sophomore forward Delmara Reece with 10 points apiece.

Freshman forward Taylor Hughes led Chowan University to their 67-38 win over Columbia Union College on Saturday, scoring 16 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. The high scorer for Columbia Union during that game was junior forward Erin Duffie, with 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Senior guard Deyshia Williams paced the Firebirds to their,64-52, in over the Hawks of Chowan, scoring a game and season-high 20 points, while grabbing 8 rebounds. Senior guard LaQuanda Brandon followed with 19 points. They were the only two UDC players in double figures.

Junior forward A.J. O’Banion and sophomore guard Najah Harris led Chowan in scoring, with 11 point apiece, followed by sophomore guard Brittany Nicholson with 10 points.

Selected for the All-Tournament Team and the Most Valuable Player was UDC’s LaQuanda Brandon. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team were teammates Lillian McGill and Deyshia Williams, and Chowan’s A. J.O’Banion and Najah Harris. Also named to the All-Tournament Team was Mercy’s senior guard Christina Baxter.