College of Charleston
UNC Pembroke
Cougars Earn 55-50 Win over UNC Pembroke
12/2/2010 3:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The College of Charleston women's basketball team used a 14-4 run, sparked by eight points by freshman Janae Smith (Matteson, Ill.), late in the second half to erase a four-point deficit and take the 55-50 win over UNC Pembroke in front of 173 fans at the Carolina First Arena.
The Cougars (3-5) were up by six, 35-29, with 16:31 remaining, before the baskets stopped falling and UNC Pembroke's Briana Stanton took advantage, scoring seven to lead the Braves (3-2) on an 11-1 run over the next 10-and-a-half minutes to take the four-point, 40-36 lead, with just 5:53 to go.
Smith scored eight of the Cougars' next 10 points as Charleston outscored the Braves 19-10, including a 14-4 run from 5:53 to the 1:00 mark, to stop the rally and take the five-point, 55-50 win. With five seconds to go and the Cougars up by only three, Jillian Brown (Midlothian, Va.) iced the game with two free throws to put the game out of reach.
The Cougars opened the game with six unanswered points to lead 6-0 with 18:25 before intermission, before UNC Pembroke fought back to cut the margin to two, 6-4. The game stayed within five until a lay-up by Smith put the Cougars up by seven at 7:09. Charleston built its largest lead of the game at 4:18 (10 points, 29-19), and looked to take a double-digit lead into the locker room but UNC Pembroke closed out the half with five unanswered, and trailed by just five, 24-29, at the break.
Smith recorded her second straight double-figure scoring game, leading the Cougars with 13 points and nine rebounds. The nine boards tied her career-high. Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) followed with 11 on the night. Leading UNC Pembroke was Dominique Washington with 13 points and Stanton with 10. JaToya Kemp almost had a double-double with her team-leading 11 rebounds and nine points.
Charleston shot 35.7 percent from the field, compared to 31.6 percent for the Braves. The Cougars had five more turnovers, 25-20, but held a 10-rebound advantage, 45-35. UNC Pembroke went to the charity stripe 16 times and converted 12, while the Cougars were 11-of-17. The bench play for Charleston was crucial, posting 30 of the team's 55 points.
Charleston is off for a couple of weeks for exams and returns to the hardwood Dec. 16 with a 7 p.m. matchup against Chattanooga at the Carolina First Arena. For ticket information go to www.CofCSports.com or call the ticket office at 843.953.CofC (2632).
