COLD SECOND HALF SHOOTING LEADS TO 60-40 HOME DEBUT LOSS TO UNIVERSITY OF D.C.

COLD SECOND HALF SHOOTING LEADS TO 60-40 HOME DEBUT LOSS TO UNIVERSITY OF D.C.

BOWIE, MD – The home debut for Bowie State University did not result in a positive outcome, as the Firebirds flew past the Lady Bulldogs 60-40. The loss, Bowie State’s third in a row, drops the Lady Bulldogs overall record to 2-3.

The University of the District of Columbia (4-3) soared to a 24-7 lead over the first 11 minutes of play and finished with a 21-6 flourish over the final eight minutes of play.

UDC's Janelle Junior led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field (3-of-7 from behind-the-arc) and 3-of-4 from the foul line. Erika Brent was also a major offensive force with 17 points and eight rebounds. Tajruba Baldwin-Kallore added eight points while Robin Keke pulled down a team-best nine rebounds.

Bowie State, which shot just 12-of-58 from the field (21-percent) and 3-of-20 from three-point range (15-percent), was led by junior Moriah Goodman (eight points, five rebounds) and sophomore Jasmine McIntosh (six points, 12 rebounds).

The Firebirds connected on three of their first four three-point field goals of the day as they raced out to a commanding 24-7 lead by the 8:55 mark of the first half. Junior and Baldwin-Kollore led the way with six points apiece during that stretch. But back came Bowie State, as sophomore Bria Robinson scored five points to lead the Bulldogs on a 10-0 run to cut the Firebird lead to seven with just under four minutes left to play in the half. That seven point margin would stick with the District of Columbia heading into halftime with a 28-21 lead.

In the second half, the Firebird lead hovered between four and nine points for the majority of the second half until UDC blew the game open with a 21-6 outburst over the final 8:26. Clinging to a 39-34 lead after a pair of free-throws by BSU senior Jasmine Jacobs, Robin Keke scored the next three consecutive points followed by a layup by Teara Shaw to quickly up the Firebirds lead to 10 with a little over six minutes left to play. Junior and Brent then combined for 16 points, including the final six points of the afternoon.

The University of the District of Columbia held a 40-percent to 21-percent field goal shooting advantage and fared much better, 42-percent (5-of-12) to 15-percent (3-of-20) from three-point range. The Firebirds also held a 43-37 rebounding edge and more than doubled-up the Bulldogs in points in the paint, 24-10.

Bowie State will look to start a new winning streak next Tuesday (December 4), hosting the Lady Pioneers of Glenville State College at 6 pm. Glenville State will enter the contest with a 5-1 overall record and winners of the last three in a row, including a 92-68 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan (12/1).