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Lady Golden Bulls Upset Top Seed Lady Panthers
FEBRUARY 25, 2003, Raleigh, NC----The Lady Golden Bulls of Johnson
C. Smith University pulled off the biggest upset thus far in the 2003
CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament by defeating the No. 1 ranked Virginia
Union University Lady Panthers 83-70 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC.
The Lady Golden Bulls (18-10) entered the game as the No. 4 seed in the
West and the highly touted Virginia Union Lady Panthers (20-7) entered
the game as the top seed in the East.
From the onset of the game, the Lady Golden Bulls gave every indication
that they were ready, willing, and able to upset the Lady Panthers. The
Lady Golden Bulls opened the game on a 9-2 run which was capped off by
an Adrine Pettaway three pointer. A lay up by All-CIAA player Joi Surrant
gave the Lady Golden Bulls a commanding 37-21 lead. Surrant nailed a three
pointer as time ended in the first half to give her team a 19-point advantage,
the largest of the half.
"I was proud of the overall effort our ladies gave from beginning
to end," said Lady Golden Bulls head coach Vanessa Taylor. Surrant
led all scorers in the first half with 12 points. All-CIAA player Danielle
Hoggard led the Lady Panthers in scoring with 10 points in the first half.
The Lady Golden Bulls continued their good play in the second half, increasing
the lead to 25 points at the 18:27 mark (52-27). The Lady Panthers responded
by going on a 13-3 run off their own capped off by a LaToya Daniels lay
up. The Lady Panthers battled their way back into the game, cutting the
Lady Golden Bulls' lead to 65-61 with 5:31 remaining in the game.
"I knew they would make a run because they are a very good team,"
said Taylor. That was as close as the Lady Panthers would get. JCSU would
charge back and go on a 7-0 run to end the game. A Pettaway free throw
at the 46 second mark sealed the game for the Lady Golden Bulls.
"We're disappointed in our overall play, but we have to give (Johnson
C.) Smith credit," Lady Panthers head coach Moses Gollatt said. "We
beat them twice this year, but it's hard to beat a team three times."
Surrant led the Lady Golden Bulls in scoring with a game-high 27 points.
Freshman guard Brandi Young contributed 17 points, and Lauren Goss chipped
in nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds for JCSU.
The Lady Panthers were paced by guard Sharon Atkins who had 12 points
and eight rebounds. Hoggard added a team-high 16 points along with seven
rebounds for VUU.
Johnson C. Smith will meet the winner of the Winston-Salem State University/St.
Augustine's College in the semifinals.