FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-31-04

Women's Basketball: No. 17 AASU 51, UNC Pembroke 48

Release Courtesy of UNC Pembroke Sports Information

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Pirates used an 8-0 to close out the game and steal a victory from the Lady Braves, winning 51-48. With the win, AASU improves to 15-4 on the season and 6-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. UNCP falls to 7-11 overall and 1-6 in conference competition.

In the opening period, the teams combined for 33 turnovers and 44 points. The Lady Braves shot 33 percent to 31 percent for the visitors. Both teams mustered one three-pointer in the half. Despite the 20 turnovers for UNCP, the Lady Braves forced 13 for AASU, including five steals.

Bartholf netted nine in the first twenty minutes of play, hitting 4-7 from the field, including UNCP's only three pointer. Sharkeysha Midgette and Danielle Richardson controlled the boards, each pulling
down seven.

Alicia Durham led the Pirates with six points in the half and Marloes Renskers chipped in five.

The Pirates opened the second half with a 6-0 run, but UNCP would recover to take a 35-33 lead on a basket by freshman Midgette with just under 14 minutes to play. A three-pointer by AASU's Alicia Durham gave Armstrong a 38-37 advantage before the Braves could muster a 5-0 run, forcing the Pirates to call timeout with 9:15 play, down 42-38.

The Lady Braves maintained the lead, pushing the advantage to 48-42. AASU, however, scored the next seven points to go ahead 49-48 with just under two minutes remaining. With Armstrong holding the ball and a slim lead, UNCP's Kristen Vaughan grabbed a key steal and sent the ball downcourt to Bartholf, who was fouled with 19 seconds left in regulation.

After missing the front end of the one-and-one, the Braves were forced to foul. Durham stepped up to the line for the Pirates and calmly sank both free throws to give AASU a 51-48 advantage and the win, as a three-pointer by Stotler fell just short for UNCP.

Durham had a game-high 13 points in the victory. Tasha Washington and Vandy Noldon each contributed 12 for the Pirates.

UNCP was led by Bartholf's 12. Stotler was the only other Lady Brave in double figures with 10. Midgette grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

-Pirates-