FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-30-03

Women's Basketball: AASU 63, Barry 56

Release Courtesy of Barry University Sports Information

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The Barry Buccaneers fell 63-56 to the Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates in the final game of the Buccaneer Holiday Classic at the Health & Sports Center on Tuesday.

The Pirates exploded out of the gate, 19-8 after the first 10 minutes. Barry (4-7) trimmed the lead to 30-24 at the 4:20 mark. But the Pirates closed the half with a 15-4 run to take a 45-28 lead into the half.

The Bucs mounted a furious comeback in the second half, behind the play of Yojana Rodriguez. Barry cut the lead to three points with 6:42 left in the game, out-scoring the Pirates 18-4. Rodriguez had seven points in the run.

But Armstrong (8-2) rallied to extend the lead back to 10 points at the 1:25 mark, 58-48 and held on down the stretch.

Daphnee Allen led Barry with 12 points. Vandy Noldon led four Pirates in double figures with 18. Kaneetha Gordon added 12 and the backcourt duo of Alicia Durham and Tasha Washington added 10 points each.

Washington was named the Tournament’s MVP. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Noldon, Barry’s Sanja Zivanovic, Jessie Pate of Nova Southeastern and Valdosta State’s Candice Ferrell.

Barry opens Sunshine State Conference play on Saturday, January 3 at Tampa. AASU next faces No. 7 Shaw on Friday, January 2, at 7:00 p.m.

- Pirates -