FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-2-04

Women's College Basketball: AASU 71, No. 7 Shaw 62

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State women’s basketball team won its seventh straight game, defeating No. 7-ranked Shaw, 71-62, on Friday evening at Alumni Arena. Shaw is the highest-ranked opponent the Lady Pirates have beaten in women’s basketball in the Peach Belt Conference era.

The Lady Pirates (9-2) used a suffocating defense to force 17 first-half turnovers by the Lady Bears (8-2) and take a three-point lead into halftime, 34-31. After intermission, Shaw would cut the lead to two points on several occasions, the last time coming with 4:29 remaining on a two-pointer by India Lopez, but the Lady Pirates would go on a 12-4 run, punctuated by a Vandy Noldon three-pointer with 44 seconds left, to come away with the victory.

Noldon hit 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 4-of-6 three-pointers, to register a game-high 21 points for the Lady Pirates. The senior has now hit 15 of her last 25 threes (60 percent) over her last six games. Senior Tasha Washington scored 17 points as well for AASU, while freshman Kaneetha Gordon picked up her second double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Shaw placed a trio of players in double figures, led by Kiarsha Curtis’ 17 points and Latasha Shipman’s double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Pirates open up Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday, January 7, as they visit No. 25-ranked GC&SU at 5:30 p.m. Shaw visits Elizabeth City State in CIAA action on Tuesday, January 6, at 5:30 p.m.

-Pirates-