UDC Firebird Women Rollover Mansfield, 92-49

Washington, DC: December 20, 2008— In one of their most impressive performances of the season, the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women’s Basketball Team defeated the Mansfield State University Women Mountaineers, 92-49, this afternoon in the Physical Activities Center.  Senior guard LaQuanda Brandon (Washington, DC) paced the Firebirds to the win with a 14 point scoring effort.

Five UDC players were in double figures, including Brandon. Also reaching double figures were junior point guard Nicole Cooper (Ft. Washington, MD) with 12 points and 2 assists, senior guard DeVaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ), who scored 12 points, grabbed 1 rebound and gave 3 assists in an off—the-bench performance, freshman forward Stacy Griffith (Fredericksburg, VA), who also came off the bench to record her first double-double by scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  Senior forward Deyshia Williams (Camden, NJ) also scored in double figures with 11 points and 4 rebounds.

UDC immediately took charge of this game. After a 2-2 tie in the opening seconds, it was all Firebirds the rest of the way.  UDC broke it open at 7:17 of the first half, making a 14-2 run to make the lead 38-24, and taking a 19 point lead into the half-time break with the score 43-24.

The Firebirds used an effective zone defense holding Mansfield to 25 percent (12 for 49) shooting during the game, while making 53 percent (36 of 64) of their two point field goals. UDC also shot 50 percent (4 for 8) from beyond the arc and a solid 83 percent (20 of 24) from the charity stripe. UDC’s bench scored 43 points in the game, compared to Mansfield’s 21.

Mansfield effectively held UDC’s season leading scorer and nationally ranked, sophomore center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC), to 4 points and 4 rebounds by double teaming her and getting her in to early foul trouble. In spite of this, McGill still managed to get in 17 minutes of playing time and plug up the middle to prevent Mansfield from getting to the basket. McGill was ranked 15th in the country among DII schools in rebounding last week.

Point guard Nicole Pender was the only Mountaineer to reach double figures, scoring 14 points to lead them in the losing effort. Their next highest scorer was Mallory Moore with 6 points.

UDC improved their record to 9-2 with this win, while Mansfield fell to 3-5. The Firebirds will take a holiday break and return to action on January 3-4, 2009, hosting their 2nd Annual New Year’s Classic. Participating schools will be Chowan University, Columbia Union College and Mercy College.