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AN INSTANT REPLAY The Mount Olive College Lady Trojans propelled to Petersburg, Virginia to participate in a Part II Tango with the Virginia State University Lady Trojans. It was only 27 days ago that the Lady Trojans of VSU were just a shot short; losing to the Lady Trojans of MOC 66 – 65. Unfortunately for VSU, the rematch rumble would have history to repeat itself as the green and white Lady Trojans would defeat the blue and orange Lady Trojans 56 – 53. In an attempt to satisfy her starving appetite for victory, VSU Head Coach Evans elected to use a number of different special ingredients. The Psychology Professor positioned freshman forward #12 Nikki Hayes at center and Richmond, VA senior #5 Alexandra Street to start at forward. Hayes, a 6’1” Sports Management major, was the first to tap the tip-off, but it found its way into the hands of a MOC Lady Trojan. MOC jumped on the scoreboard with one of two free throws made by #40 Sierra Medeiros. Medeiros’ second missed free throw was retrieved as an offensive rebound, but her pass was intercepted by VSU’s #4 Janae Johnson. The first tie of the game was 1 – 1 after #21 Erica Glasper made one of two free throws as well. The MOC Lady Trojans would get their first and second successful field goals from #32 Teneal Boone. Boone bungee-jumped for a backdoor pass from #24 Anita Rogers and then broke free to the basket with an assist from #10 Tomeka Prichard. The 5 -1 lead led VSU to take its first thirty second timeout at 14:21. Six minutes later, Coach Evans would take a full timeout as even she was mind boggled with the mass of missed shot attempts and the 14 – 3 point margin MOC held. VSU shot a spine-shivering 16% (4 of 25) from the field and misfired on all 11 three-point attempts. More than 50% of the VSU Lady Trojans’ first half offense was gunned in by Glasper. The senior guard made eight of VSU’s 14 first half points. Their seven minute scoring drought was ended with Glasper’s eight point of the half and then a bank off the box by #34 Laurice Lockhart. Meanwhile, MOC matriculated with a 16 point lead behind Boone’s 11 points. In the beginning of the second half, the VSU Lady Trojans were determined to bench the mysterious, image-resembling athletes from the first half, and get reacquainted with the VSU Lady Trojans that almost caused an upset in MOC’s Kornegay Area back in late November. VSU still structured a spooky 34% (11 of 32) field goal percentage, but the shot selection statistic was somewhat “super” compared to MOC’s wintry 25%; sinking just seven of 27 shot attempts. At the 11:18 mark, VSU trailed MOC 42 – 23. Before the MOC Lady Trojans could blink, their “almost” 20 point lead was trimmed to be just a 47 – 37 lead. VSU paper cut MOC with a jumper by #31 Myesha Gillespie, a three-pointer by Johnson, and then three three-pointers by #3 Katania Walker. With less than three minutes and “some change” remaining, Walker cruised to the charity stripe to tickle the twine with two free throws. Then, finally on her fifth attempt, Glasper leaned back behind the arc to hit nothing but the bottom of the net. Walker immediately collected another assist after she airmailed a “priority pass” to #10 Asheley Alexander for her first three-pointer. The MOC Lady Trojans raced to a referee to ask for a full timeout. On the inbound pass, the MOC missed and Glasper galloped past all defenders for a two-point coast to coast conversion. VSU was down (54 – 50 MOC) until Alexander harassed MOC’s #14 Keona Corly to cough up the ball into the hands of #1 Caromekia Parker. The VSU Lady Trojans’ Glasper signaled for a play and then released a quick pass to Parker in the post. Parker put up a lay-up off the glass, was fouled, and then made the free throw bring VSU within just one (54 – 53) of MOC. The Lady Trojans of VSU had an opportunity to take the lead, but Walker’s lay-up rolled off the rim. MOC locked in a three point lead and the win with a second chance jumper by Medeiros. Leading in scoring for the Virginia State University Lady Trojans was #3 Katania Walker with 14 points. Additional offense was provided by #21 Erica Glasper with 13 points and #1 Caromekia Parker with 10 points. Glasper and Walker combined for 7 assists. The Virginia State University Lady Trojans will revise and restudy their game plan to get their first win. On January 2, 2005, the Lady Trojans will travel to Shepherdstown, West Virginia to play against the Lady Rams of Shepherd University. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Cannot make it to the game? Well tune into WVST 91.3 and listen to Mr. Sean Robertson, Mr. James Yedel, and Mr. Jerry Crawford as they deliver all the play-by-play action!
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