Women's Basketball Southern Conference

Women's Basketball Capsules for December 2

December 2, 2001

FURMAN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL EARNS FIRST-EVER VICTORY
OVER INTRASTATE RIVAL CLEMSON

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman's womens basketball team used a focused game plan and tenacious defense to earn a 59-57 victory over the Clemson Lady Tigers Sunday afternoon in Timmons Arena. The win was the Lady Paladins' first over instrastate rival Clemson.

Down 28-23 at the half, the Lady Paladins tied the game at 36, 49 and again at 51 before taking the lead, 53-51, at the 3:10 mark on a Kim Lawrence jump shot. Furman stretched its lead to six on a Deshara Shealey free throw with 13 seconds left to play, but Chrissy Floyd sank a quick layup to pull to within four. With time running out Floyd fouled Furman guard Althea Bufford, who sank one of two free throws to stretch the Lady Paladin lead to five. Floyd answered on the next Tiger possession with a three pointer off a Kanetra Queen pass, but time was on Furman's side and the Lady Paladins claimed the two-point win.

"It's hard to focus young talent, so for this game we tried to get the team focused, eliminated all questions, and provide them with a game plan," said coach Sherry Carter. " I thought we executed well on offense and played great defense. Althea Bufford did a tremendous job guarding their point, which was important. We also ran the ball and penetrated well, which was all part of our plan. We are excited about this victory."

The biggest win of the season came just three days after Furman lost its first-ever game to High Point. "Against High Point, we just didn't follow our game plan," Carter added. "We did a better job of that today."

Furman was led in the game by guard Deshara Shealey, who scored 15, and forward Kim Lawrence, who totaled 14. Orion Wake claimed 12 rebounds which was key in Furman winning the rebounding contest over the Tigers 45-40. In addition, Shealey claimed nine boards and Lawrence garnered eight.

The Tigers were paced by Chrissy Floyd's 23 points, while Leah Roper took rebounding honors, with eight.

With the victory Furman improves to 3-3 on the year and snaps a two-game losing streak, while Clemson falls to 3-2. The Lady Paladins will open the Southern Conference season Thursday night with a 7 p.m. home game against Western Carolina, while the Tigers play at Maryland Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.


Appalachian State Falls to Southern Mississippi 61-48

Hattiesburg, MS -- Southern Miss' Tierra Lassiter scored a career-high 18 points, leading the Golden Eagles to a 61-48 victory over Appalachian State in the championship game of the Comfort Inn Classic, Sunday. Southern Miss evened its record to 3-3 on the season, while Appalachian State dropped to 3-4.

Lana Lewis, the tournament's most valuable player, scored 15 points for the Lady Eagles. Lauren Fuller and Tiffani Johnson led Appalachian State with 11 points, each.

Joining Lewis on the all-tournament was Joanie White and Jaymi Wilson of Appalachian State, Taresha Coleman of Alcorn State and La'Tasha Sumerall of Southern Miss.

"This was a good win against a good team," Reeves said. "I hope we don't run out of gas after having to play four games in six days."

Southern Miss took its first lead of the game, 23-22, on a three-point play by Lassiter, to open the second half. The Golden Eagles never trailed again, but over the first five minutes, the game was tied four times. Southern Miss took the lead for good, 35-32, when Lassiter hit the Eagles' first three-pointer of the game at the 14:28 mark. From there, the Eagles outscored Appalachian State, 17-10, over nine minutes, to take a 10-point lead, 52-42, at the 4:41 mark. The Mountaineers got no closer than eight points, 55-47, with just over a minute remaining in the game. The Golden Eagles sealed the win, hitting six-of-seven free throws, in the last 44 seconds.

Appalachian State led a 22-20 at the intermission. Appalachian State jumped out to a 15-2 lead. The Golden Eagles struggled in the first 10 minutes of the game, going 0-for-12 from the field. The Eagles scored their first basket at the 10:21 mark in the half. The Eagles shot only 20 percent (5-of-25) from the field.

Appalachian State built as many as a 12-point lead, 20-8, with 6:54 remaining in the half. Southern Miss, then went on a 8-0 run to cut the lead to four, 20-16, just before the half.

Southern Miss plays its fourth game in six days, when the Goldne Eagles host Louisiana-Monroe in Reed Green Coliseum, Dec. 4. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Appalachian takes on Charlotte, their third Conference USA opponent in their past four games, Tuesday night at the Holmes Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.