• Box Score

UDC Men’s Basketball Snaps Four-Game Losing Streak with 89-79 ECC Win vs. Queens

QUEENS (N.Y.)

79

DIST. COLUMBIA

89

Final	1	2	T
QUEENS (N.Y.) (5-17, 5-10 ECC)	39	40	79
DIST. COLUMBIA (5-18, 5-10 ECC)	47	42	89

Junior forward Clenso Brannon III had 10 points and nine rebounds.

GAME LEADERS

QUEENS (N.Y.)

Pts: Paul Little - 22

Reb: Paul Little - 9

Ast: Obi Udezeh - 4

DIST. COLUMBIA

Pts: Reggie Sidbury - 16

Reb: Clenso Brannon - 9

Ast: Quasim Jones - 5

TEAM STATS

QUEENS (N.Y.)

DIST. COLUMBIA

Field Goal %

45.0% (27-60)

50.9% (28-55)

Rebounds

36

31

Assists

11

15

Turnovers

11

9

Pts off Turnovers

9

23

2nd Chance Pts

13

2

Pts in the Paint

28

18

Fastbreak Pts

0

0

Bench Pts

14

42

FULL STATS

Feb 11, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with an 89-79 East Coast Conference victory over Queens College Wednesday night at the UDC Sports Complex.

The Firebirds improved to 5-10 in league play (5-18 overall) with tonight's win while Queens fell to 5-10 in the ECC (5-17 overall).

UDC, which shot a blistering 51-percent from the field, 48-percent from three-point range, and 86-percent from the free-throw line, featured a balanced offensive attack with five double-figure scorers. Sophomore guard Reggie Sidbury (Social Work – Landover, MD/Charles Herbert Flowers HS) led all Firebird scorers with 16 points as he knocked down 4-of-7 three-pointers – all in the first half. Freshman guard Kory Cooley (Art – Silver Spring, MD/Calvin Coolidge HS) added 15 points on 6-of-8 FG shooting, senior point guard Quasim Jones (Mass Media – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) contributed 13 points and a game-high five assists, and junior guard Omar Abbas(Electrical Engineering – Alexandria, Egypt/Egyptian American HS) finished with 12 points off of the bench on 4-of-5 shooting from behind-the-arc.

Junior forward Clenson Brannon III led the team with nine rebounds while also scoring a season-high 10 points which included a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Queens was led by forward Paul Little with team-highs of 22 points and nine rebounds and guard Jeremiah Mordi with 20 points.

The Knights shot well – 45-percent from the field, 35-percent from three-point range, but not well enough to keep up with the Firebirds. They also were done in by 15-of-24 (63-percent) free-throw shooting and 11 turnovers that turned into 23 UDC points. The Firebirds' depth also played a key role in the victory as UDC's bench out-scored Queens', 42-14.

Little scored the game's first seven points and back-to-back three-pointers by Diego Maldonado and Kyheim Chaplin all contributed to Queens jumping out to a 17-7 lead nearly six minutes into the action. With UDC still trailing 20-12 just past the 12-minute mark, Kooley kicked off a 12-3 Firebirds run with his first three-pointer of the night, and Jones later capped the run with a three-pointer to pull UDC within one, 23-22, with 8:21 left in the first half.

Chaplin would respond for Queens with his second three-pointer of the night to put the Knights up 26-22, but that set off a three-point shooting assault by UDC led by Sidbury. The sharp-shooting sophomore buried three consecutive three-pointers, and later a fourth after senior guard Michael Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston U) made one as well, and suddenly UDC was on top 40-30 courtesy of an 18-8 stretch over a 3:20 span.

Back came the Knights, as Little led Queens on a 9-0 march with five points of his own to bring the visitors within one, 40-39, but the Firebirds closed out the half with a 7-0 response, and took a 47-39 lead at halftime.

The Firebirds lead was 12 almost three minutes into the second half when Queens closed to within three (55-52) after a 9-0 run, culminating in a Maldonado three-pointer just past the 14-minute mark. The Firebirds answered, however, with a 17-4 power surge highlighted by two three-point field goals by Abbas and one by fellow reserve guard, Erin Senegal (Political Science – Lafayette, LA/Caldwell). Freshman guard Masner Beauplan (Business Management – East Orange, NJ/Winslow Township HS) completed the run with a conventional three-point play, and UDC had its largest lead of the night, 72-56 right around the eight-minute mark.

Still ahead by 14 (74-60) at the 6:30 mark, the Firebirds allowed the Knights to cut the lead to five after another 9-0 run, helped by five consecutive points by Mordi. Following a Queens timeout, Abbas knocked down a crucial three-pointer to stop the bleeding and up the UDC lead to 77-69 with 3:37 remaining in regulation.

The Knights closed to within five (83-78) once more at the 1:17 mark, but the Firebirds made 6-of-6 from the free-throw line down the stretch, including four consecutive free-throws by Sidbury, and they went on to win by a 10-point margin.

UDC will stay in the nation's capital to host ECC foe Molloy on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The UDC Athletic Department will be hosting Wounded Warrior Project Day in conjunction with the game, and will be selling a limited amount of t-shirts at the game.

Fox 5 News Featured on Former Bowie State Basketball Player Rasheem King Aired Tonight (2/13) at 6 pm

Please be advised to tune in to Fox 5 News tonight (2/13) tonight at 6 pm as Beth Parker will run a feature on former Bowie State men’s basketball player Rasheem Brooks.

On Saturday, February 14^th during the men's basketball game half time a young man by the name of Rasheem King will be recognized.

Rasheem is 24 years old. He played basketball under Coach Brooks back in 2010-2011. He has stage 3 sarcoma cancer. His tumor is baseball sized and in his shoulder. He is currently undergoing simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He will eventually have surgery to remove the tumor. He has no parents, no grandparents, no one to care for him. Rasheem cares for himself.

He picks up his own medications. He takes himself to appointments. He cleans up after himself when he gets sick from the chemo. He has cousins who do what they can but caring for a cancer patient is a full time job. One that he does because he has to, if he wants to survive. Rasheem is such a strong, caring, loving young man. He deserves so much better. Once Rasheem BEATS this cancer, he plans to return to Bowie State University to continue his basketball career and finish his degree. Anything you can give to help his battle be any easier, will help him fight. It will help him survive.

If you would like to contribute to Rasheem’s fundraiser click on the following link … www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/pd77/rasheem-s-sarcoma-battle ... No contribution is too small and every donation is greatly appreciated.

UDC Athletics Commemorates Historic 1975 Women’s Basketball Game & Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day

From L to R: Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas, Counsellor - Embassy of China, Zha Liyou, former FCC student-athlete Gigi Ransom, Interim President Dr. James Lyons, former FCC Head Coach, Bessie Stockard, Miss UDC, Toi Glover

Feb 12, 2015

See Photo Album

Watch Gigi Ransom's Interview on "Sports Talk"

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia Athletic Department honored former head women's basketball coach Bessie Stockard and former student-athlete Albrette "Gigi" Ransom of predecessor school Federal City College as part of a 40^th Anniversary and Commemoration of the historic 1975 women's basketball game between FCC and the Women's Basketball Team of the People's Republic of China on Wednesday, February 11th.

 

Interim President, Dr. James Lyons, Embassy of China Counsellor, Zha Liyou, Councilmember Mary Cheh, and Miss UDC, Toi Glover, all took part in honoring and commemorating at halftime this momentous event for both women's sports and international relations between China and the United States.

 

"It is a privilege to recognize the 1975 women's basketball contest between the Women's Basketball Team of the People's Republic of China and Federal City College," Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas said of the game which was played at Cole Field House on the campus of the University of Maryland.

 

"While it is important to note that women did engage in high-level competition during that time, international level competition on the intercollegiate level was indeed rare.  FCC Head Women's Basketball Coach Bessie Stockard was a trailblazer in many ways.  The fact that her program was one of only five teams selected to participate in this historic event is indicative of the national level respect she earned in women's college basketball."

 

According to Ransom, this game was diplomacy through sports as the game occurred before President Gerald Ford's historic visit to China. She was pleased that the UDC Athletic Department thought to recognize such an important historical event.

 

"It was very nice tonight to receive such great recognition from the individuals in the crowd, [a lot of whom] probably weren't even born at that time…," Ransom joked during an interview with WJLA Sports Talk show host Alex Parker. "And for them to be able to have an understanding of what actually occurred was quite moving."

 

The 1975 game commemoration was also held in collaboration with a National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration. Area youth girls basketball players were offered free admission to the game and an opportunity to get autographs from their favorite Firebird women's basketball student-athletes following the women's basketball game vs. East Coast Conference foe, Queens College (NY). Additionally, both UDC and Queens' student-athletes wore commemorative t-shirts in celebration of NGWSD.

 

In a matchup pitting two regionally ranked foes and the top-two teams in the ECC, the Firebirds prevailed as a 66-61 winner to earn their 9^th straight victory and 20^thoverall this season.

UDC Hoops Results

UDC Mens and Women's Basketball Recaps
Mens

Women

Virginia Union Panthers Stuns #3 Bowie State Bulldogs 83-76

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Union University stuns #3 Bowie State, beating the Bulldogs by a score of 83-76 on Wednesday night inside Barco-Stevens Hall. The loss snaps a two-game Bowie State win streak and sets the Bulldogs overall record at 18-7, 11-2 in the conference and 5-2 in the division. Bowie State came into the game ranked third in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll.

“We got exactly what we deserved because we did not defend the way we’re capable of and they way we need to defend on the road”, said an upset Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks. It was too easy for their guards to score or get fouled … They took 35 free throws with their starting three perimeter guys taking 31 of those attempts!”

Virginia Union (8-16, 4-9 CIAA, 3-4 North) jumped out to a 5-0 advantage before back-to-back field goals by senior Cameron Knox (Baltimore, Md.) and a jumper and junior Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md.) gave the Bulldogs their first lead at 7-6.

Bowie State went on an 8-2 run to extend the visitor’s lead to 15-8 at the 14:55 mark. The Bulldogs held the lead until a pair of free throws by Virginia Union’s Avery Jirmnson knotted the score at 22-all with 6:19 left in the first half.

The tables were turned at halftime from the last time the Panthers and Bulldogs met as Virginia Union took a 35-30 lead into the break. VUU made 12-of-36 (33.3 percent) first period field goals compared to 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) field goals for Bowie State.

The Panthers began the second half just like the first, scoring back-to-back field goals for a 39-30 advantage and remained in front by a score of 50-43 at the under 15 minute media timeout. Virginia Union’s lead ballooned 55-44 before a triple by Bowie State junior Miles Jackson (Silver Spring, Md.) cut the deficit down to single digits.

Bowie State uses an 8-0 run to trim the Virginia Union lead down to 55-52 at the 9:24 mark. Freshman Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) pulled the Bulldogs within one at 58-57.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Virginia Union responded to the threat with a 9-0 burst to give the Panthers a 67-55 cushion and never looked back.

Knox and Livingston paced Bowie State with 22 and 16 points respectively and senior Zafir Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in 10 points.

Four of five Virginia Union players scored in double figures with D’Andre Bullard leading the pack with a team-high 20 points. Jirmnson fell just shy of a triple double, adding 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while Ray Anderson was responsible for 16 points. Colton Lewis also recorded a double-double tallying 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (February 14^th), hosting the Hawks of Chowan University in a 4 pm divisional tilt in BSU’s A.C. Jordan Arena. This home finale has been designated as Cancer Awareness Day and Senior Day.

Virginia Union Battles to a 59-55 Victory over Bowie State’s Lady Bulldogs

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Union University avenged an earlier season loss at held on to defeat Bowie State University 59-55 in women’s basketball on Wednesday evening.

Leading the Lady Bulldogs’ offense was junior Sheldeen Joseph (Belair St. Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I.) and freshman Kyah Proctor (Capital Heights, Md.) with 12 and 10 points respectively.  Senior Jasmine McIntosh (Bowie, Md.) hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

The first half of play was a back and forth affair but low scoring. McIntosh drained a 3-pointer followed by back-to-back free throws by Ty-Nita Baker (Houston, Miss.) that gave Bowie State a 21-16 lead with just over five minutes left in the half.

Virginia Union closed the first half with a11-5 run to take a 27-26 lead into halftime. The Lady Panthers shot 29.4 percent from the field (10-of-34) in the first half of action compared to 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) for Bowie State. The Lady Panthers capitalized on the Lady Bulldogs’ 10 first half turnovers, creating 10 points for Virginia Union.

A stick back VUU’s Taylor White (LaPlata, Md.) gave the home team its largest lead of the game at 35-30 with just under 16 minutes remaining in the second half.

Bowie State battled back to tie the game at 39-all following a layup by Joseph. However, Virginia Union ran off five straight points, pushing the lead back up to five at 44-39.

The Lady Bulldogs rallied again to regain the lead at 48-47 at the 8:58 mark following a pair of free throws by Proctor. The lead changed hands three more times before a twisting layup by Joseph gave Bowie State a 55-54 lead. Unfortunately, that would be the last score for the Bulldogs over the final 4:19.

Each team went cold over the next three plus minutes, but White scored on a layup to shift the advantage over to the Lady Panthers. Ashle Freeman (Richmond, Va.) added a pair of free throws to seal the win for Virginia Union.

White paced a trio of Virginia Union’s Lady Panthers in scoring with 17 points. Jasmin Dancy (Silver Spring, Md.) and Freeman added 15 and 11 points respectively.

The Lady Bulldogs will close out the home portion of their conference schedule on Saturday (2/14) afternoon, hosting the Hawks of Chowan University at 2 pm. This game has been designated as Cancer Awareness Day and Senior Day.

Today's Scoreboard Mall Deals

[APW] Earn BIG while we celebrate the President's Day! $10 OFF $99! Code: PRES10AFF8 Validity: Feb 11 - 25, 2015


Save with Presidents' Day Online Specials at Walmart.com!

Up to $850 Savings on 17.3" Large-Screen Laptops Essential Value to Full-HD Gaming Starting at $349.99. Offer Ends 2/16/15.

Fourteen Coppin State indoor track and field student-athletes named to the MEAC All-Academic Team

BALTIMORE – Fourteen Coppin State indoor track and field student-athletes were named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Academic team. Overall, 193 student-athletes were honored from the conference's 13 institutions who achieved academic success during the 2013-2014 academic school year.

Representing Coppin State were Melissa Caddle-Hope, Anster Charles, Kester Chase, Haysean Cowie-Clarke, Deandra Daniel, Jeremy Dorsey, Alethia Edwards, Miriam Ekwuru, Michael James, Spencer Johnson, Kesha Medas-King, Imhotep Simba, Rohan Stewart and Kerrone White.

Sophomore, junior and senior student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average as well as transfer student-athletes who have been in residence at the institution for at least one year are eligible for All-Academic accolades.

“I want to congratulate our track and field student-athletes, who maintained a 3.0 or better grade point average, during the 2013-14 academic year,” said Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. “In addition to acknowledging the accomplishments of these student-athletes, I would also like to thank the athletic academic support staff, faculty and coaches in supporting their student-athletes academic success.”

The Coppin State men's and women's indoor track and field teams compete at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships beginning Thursday and concluding Thursday at Prince George’s County Learning and Recreation Complex in Landover, Md.
 
Competition will begin on Thursday at 1 p.m. with the men's heptathlon followed by the women's 5,000m and women's long jump at 3:15 p.m.  The day continues with the men's 5,000m and semi-finals of the men's and women's 200m races. Day one concludes with the men's long jump final.

The championships continue Friday, February 13, with the men's heptathlon at 9 a.m. Other field events on Friday's slate include the women's pentathlon, men's and women's high jump, and men's and women's weight throw. The student-athletes return to the track for the semifinals in the men's and women's 60m hurdles, 60m dash and 400m dash. The day closes out with the men's and women's distance medleys.

The competition concludes on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m., with the women's shot put, men's and women's pole vault, and the men's and women's triple jump. Running events begin at 1 p.m. with the women's mile run.  Rounding out the afternoon's events will be the men's and women's 4x400m relay race at 3:25 p.m.