UDC Lady Firebirds Score First Win of the Season, Defeat East Stroudsburg 69-50

Shippensburg, PA: November 16, 2008—Senior guard LaQuanda Brandon (Washington, DC) and sophomore forward Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) provided the leadership, scoring 14 points apiece, as the University of the District of Columbia Lady Firebirds notched their first win of the season by defeating the East Stroudsburg Lady Warriors, 69-50, in the consolation game of the Shippensburg Classic in Pennsylvania this afternoon. UDC shot 44% (27-62) in two-point field goals, 50% (8-16) beyond the arc and 54% (7-13) from the charity stripe to take the win home.

Also contributing double figures to the win was junior point guard Nicole Cooper (Fort Washington, MD) who added 11 points to the score. Senior guard DeVaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ) added 8 points to the win.

Forward Jackie Yandrisevits led the Lady Warriors in scoring with a game high 27 points and 11 rebounds. Forward Rachel Grimes also scored in double figures adding 11 points to the losing effort.

The score was tied four times and the lead changed three times during the game as UDC’s bench outscored East Stroudsburg’s 22-6. UDC capitalized on second chance points by converting 13 of them and getting 29 points off turnovers.

The Lady Warriors took a quick 4-point lead at the start of the game before the Lady Firebirds scored on a layup by McGill. After three ties, the Lady Warriors opened up an 11-point lead with 3:03 minutes remaining in the first half and went into the break with a 33-29 lead.

Cooper opened the second half with a quick 3-pointer and Brandon added another 3-pointer to give the Lady Firebirds the lead at 18:49 into the half, which they never relinquished, extending it to as many as 23 points with 1:13 remaining in the game. Lillian McGill was named to the All-Tournament Team.

UDC (1-1) returns to action at home on Wednesday night, November 19, at 6 p.m. They will host the perennial powerhouse California University of Pennsylvania in their home season opener.