The Virginia Union women’s basketball team wasn’t ready to end its CIAA Tournament experience just yet. As the No. 2 seed coming out of the North, the Panthers found themselves down early Thursday. Missed rebounds, deflected passes and pesky Claflin guards got in the way of finding a flow.
In a game plagued by turnovers, missed opportunities and intense emotions, Virginia Union got past CIAA Player of the Year Nya Morris and third-seeded Claflin University, 59-55.
“We came too far to go home,” coach Tierra Terry said. “You can’t get too high or too low when the lead changes. You’ve just got to figure it out.”
Claflin jumped out to a good start, as Morris knocked down an early 3-pointer and snagged two early steals, preventing Virginia Union’s guards from setting up a play. A disgruntled Virginia Union team endured several scoring droughts in the first half but never let the game get our of reach. Virginia Union’s defense matched Claflin’s intensity, forcing turnovers and tying the game at 21 with two minutes left before halftime.
Both teams exchanged blows, sinking free throws and midrange jumpers. Virginia Union managed to cut the deficit to two at the half.
Tatiana Jones started the second half focused on one thing: “We’re not going home.”
Jones finished with 14 points and six rebounds as she led Virginia Union to the win.
Virginia Union started the third quarter on a 7-0 run and took its first lead of the game, 32-30. Collapsing the defense was the goal for both offenses, as paint points played a big part in their production. However, Virginia Union outdueled Claflin in the paint, 30-20.
Jones, who noticed the backside of Claflin’s defense was open, knew attacking the rim would give the Panthers the momentum they needed. She pushed the ball down the floor after a missed shot from Claflin, sprinting past three defenders and finishing at the rim untouched. She went on to finish 5 of 8 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line.
With every shot, she reiterated the goal in her head, “We’re not going home yet.”
Taniyah Greene prevented Claflin from getting many second-chance opportunities. She snagged a game-high 10 rebounds and blocked four shots.
Virginia Union finished the closing minute going on an 8-1 run. Claflin attempted to tie the game with two jumpers from Morris and Ashari Lewis, but couldn’t get them to fall. Morris finished with a game-high 19 points.
The win marks the first in the postseason for Terry, but she said she’s focused on getting revenge against Fayetteville State, the reigning champs and their next opponent in the semifinals. Fayetteville State beat Virginia Union, 70-52, on Feb. 10.
“We have to play with the grit we played with at the end of the game,” she said. “It’s going to be a very tough game, but if we play how I know we can play, we play together and for each other, I don’t think we’ll be going home.”
Bluefield State men beat Johnson C. Smith, 84-69
Bluefield State guard Jordan Hinds watched from the back as CIAA Women’s Player of the Year Nya Morris’ season ended with a tough quarterfinal loss.
Hinds, the men’s Player of the Year, refused to let that be his fate and made it known from the beginning with his play. The result? Twenty-four points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.
With their top player setting the tone, Bluefield State dismantled Johnson C. Smith, 84-69, to earn a spot in the semifinals, where they will take on the No. 1 seed in the South and defending champion Fayetteville State on Friday at 8 p.m.
“We’ve been preparing this entire week for this moment,” Hinds said. “We knew we had to come out with intensity from the jump and lock in.”
A senior from Broward County, Florida, Hinds’ basketball journey has taken him from sunny South Florida to a small town in West Virginia, where he developed into a player who can take over games.
“I wasn’t ‘the guy’ my whole life,” he said. “I played behind a lot of talented guys, but I worked hard, trusted God, and took advantage of every opportunity.”
The guard’s aggressive playing style has been on display all season, and Thursday was no different as he started the game strong to help his team open up a 12-point halftime lead.
“What more can you say about him?” coach Devin Hoehn said. “He really does it all. He’s fought through some challenges early in his career, and now you’re seeing him flourish.”
With Hinds at the helm offensively, the Big Blue defense more than did its part in the first half, forcing 11 Bulls turnovers that led to 13 points. Hoehn marveled at his team as they held the Bulls scoreless for almost four minutes, ending the first half on a 16-2 run and pushing the lead to as many as 17 before going into the locker room up 12.
“We press a lot, and we know the press is eventually going to get broken,” Hoehn said. “So we stress, even in the halfcourt, being just as scrappy and aggressive with our defense.”
Shainen Carter (14 points) joined in on the scoring in the second half with the Bulls paying extra attention to Hinds. He and his teammates thrived in the second half as the Big Blue finished with five players scoring in double figures.
Once Terrell Williams (18), Trayvon Cooper (11), and Larry Howell (12) got in on the fun, the game got out of hand, and the Big Blue cruised to the semifinals.
“Having five in double figures is not a shocker to us,” Hoehn said. “When we do it right, it’s supposed to look that way.”
The Big Blue will take on the Broncos next in one of the newer matchups in conference history. With Bluefield State joining the CIAA in 2023, the schools have split two regular-season matchups. The Big Blue won the inaugural meeting by just one point, and the Broncos took game No. 2, 80-73, back in December.
— Timothy Dashiell
Bowie State women beat Livingstone, 68-54, with complete effort
The Bowie State campus is not that far from Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena. No matter how close it is, the Bulldogs aren’t ready to return there.
On Thursday, Bowie State (19-11, 11-5) put a complete game together to defeat Livingstone College, 68-54, and advance to the women’s semifinals Friday at noon. Destiny Ryles led Bowie with 21 points Thursday, while Shelby Ricks contributed 15. Livingstone was led by Morgan Kelson’s 15 points.
The last time the Bulldogs advanced this far was in 2020 in Charlotte.
“Everybody thought we wouldn’t make it this far, but we’re still here,” Ricks said. “Now we just have to continue to go.”
The Bulldogs will face Virginia State in the semifinals. The two teams split meetings in the regular season, with the Trojans defeating the Bulldogs by 23 on Feb. 18.
Thursday’s game between Bowie State and Livingstone was tight early on, with both teams trading the lead. Livingstone’s Bria Griffith hit a jumper to give the Blue Bears (11-16, 9-7) a 20-19 edge. Then it was Bowie State’s turn to come alive. The Bulldogs tightened up the defensive intensity, and then got balanced scoring on drives to the basket on the other end. Bowie State held Livingstone scoreless for the final 6:50 of the second quarter.
“It was a good win,” Bowie State coach Shadae Swan said. “I think we had a great [defensive] effort, much better than we did in the first game. The young ladies came out with a lot of energy today.”
Ryles, who scored 37 in the Bulldogs opening round game against Winston-Salem State on Tuesday, started to come to life. She scored six of the Bulldogs’ 13 points as Bowie State built a 33-20 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs continued to stretch the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Blue Bears 20-13 to take a 53-33 lead after three and put the game out of reach. The contest got a little chippy in the second half, with Livingstone being called for two intentional fouls.
Now the Bulldogs have to face the dreaded quick turnaround that tournaments offer.
“I told them they could have 24 minutes to enjoy the win,” Swan said. “Then I realized we had to play tomorrow at 12, so that was it. It’s back to work.”
— Mike Frainie, for The Baltimore Sun
Lincoln men edge Claflin on Garita’s late shot to reach semifinals
Ethan Garita walked off the court a champion last season as one of the key pieces in Lincoln University’s Cinderella run to the CIAA title. Thanks to his heroics Thursday night, he walked off the same court a winner again.
Garita hit a jumper in the lane with 8.7 seconds left to give Lincoln a two-point lead en route to a 56-53 win over Claflin in the quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament. The dramatic shot capped a tight game in which the Lions led by no more than five at any point.
Peter Sorber led Lincoln with a double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds). Garita finished right behind him with 14 points, including the game-winner. Claflin (17-10, 11-5) was led by Jailen Williams and Michael Shuler with nine points each.
Lincoln (18-11, 11-5) fell behind by nine, 40-31, on a dunk by David Onyekonwu with 11:45 left. Gradually, the Lions began chipping away at the lead. They finally caught up with 6:34 to go when Garita was fouled on a driving layup. He made the shot and the accompanying free throw to give Lincoln a 47-46 lead.
The teams traded baskets until Claflin’s Guy Fauntleroy was fouled making a layup with 3:08 left. He made the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 53.
Both teams tightened up their defensive intensity, but couldn’t get anything to go in. Claflin tried to get the game-winner on a layup by Williams, but Sorber grabbed the rebound with 35 seconds left.
The Lions ran the clock down to 8.7 seconds left before they found Garita alone in the lane, and he made the shot for a 55-53 lead.
“The play was for Peter [Sorber]. We were running it get the ball inside, but [Claflin] did a good job of making sure he didn’t get it,” Lincoln coach Julius Hodge said. “Ethan went from the wing, and he posted up and made a big shot.”
Claflin got the ball back with 8.7 seconds left, but another shot by Williams fell short, and the Panthers fouled. Manny Toha’s free throw accounted for the final margin.
The Lions will take on top-seeded Virginia State in the 2 p.m. semifinal on Friday.
— Mike Frainie, for The Baltimore Sun
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