UDC Defeats Fayetteville State, 71-69, in Overtime

Washington, DC: December 14, 2008—It was the first meeting of the Fayetteville State University (FSU) Broncos and University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Firebirds Women’s basketball teams in many years, and they promptly made up for it as they took it to the max this afternoon in the Physical Activities Center. With the score knotted at 62, the teams went into overtime to settle the matter, and UDC pulled out the 71-69, win in the closing minute.

The teams were pretty evenly matched throughout the contest, with UDC shooting 45 percent (24 for 53) for the game and FSU 46 percent (27 for 59). One of the differences was from beyond the arc, where UDC made only 27 percent (3 for 11) of their attempts, compared to FSU’s 33 percent (2 for 6) shooting.

UDC overcame missed free throw opportunities, shooting 54 percent (14 of 26), while 68 percent (19 of 28) found their mark for FSU. Yet, even with those deficits, UDC was able to overcome their opponent and put the game into their win column, thanks to the magnificent performance of sophomore center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC), who recorded her 5th double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 19 rebounds.

Joining McGill in double figures for UDC were freshman forward Stacy Griffith (Fredericksburg, VA), who came off the bench to post her season high 11 points, while also grabbing 4 rebounds, and junior guard Tamara Watkins (Penns Grove, NJ) who also came off the bench to score 10 points and dish out 2 assists. UDC demonstrated that they could go to the well today, when their usual high scorers, with the exception of McGill, were held below their normal level of productivity.

Both teams displayed tough defensive skills today, forcing a combined total of 41 turnovers, 12 of which UDC converted into points, while FSU converted 10 into points. UDC led in second chance scoring, taking advantage of the opportunity to score 14 points to FSU’s 8.

UDC took a 60-62 lead on a layup by senior guard Jessica Edwards (Chicago, IL) with 10 seconds remaining in regulation, when FSU’s junior guard Danielle Russell took the ball the length of the court and scored on a layup with 5 seconds remaining to force overtime. Then, after exchanging baskets and free throws, UDC’s McGill finally put the Broncos away when she was fouled and made one of two free throws with 6 seconds remaining in overtime to seal the win for the Firebirds.

FSU had three players in double figures, led by Russell, who scored 18 points, senior guard Chelsea Jeter with 13 and sophomore forward Erica Gilley with 11 points.

UDC improved their record to 8-2 with this win, while FSU dropped to 3-4. UDC returns to action on Saturday, December 20, in a double-header, with the women’s team playing Mansfield State at 1 p.m., and the Firebirds men’s team playing the men from Mansfield at 3 p.m.