Posted on Wed, Feb. 27, 2008

CIAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

Buford, J.C. Smith warm up

Florida State transfer finds range, foul line to her liking in 2nd half

HERB WHITE

Special Correspondent

Kyria Buford was silent for the first half of Johnson C. Smith's quarterfinal game in the CIAA women's tournament Tuesday.

Her game spoke volumes during the second.

Buford, a graduate of Charlotte Victory Christian, scored 12 points over the final 20 minutes to help the third-seeded Golden Bulls hold off No. 6 St. Paul's 55-50 at Bobcats Arena. J.C. Smith (20-8) will play No. 2 Bowie State at 3 p.m. Friday.

"My teammates encouraged me," said Buford, a Florida State transfer. "I think I was a little more aggressive driving to the basket. I realized we were in the bonus, so I just tried to drive, shoot and get fouled."

The Bulls struggled to find the range, connecting on 29.2 percent of their field-goal tries and Buford went 0-for-6 during the first half. But she hit 3 of 5 attempts during the second half along with 6 of 8 free throws.

"Getting ourselves to the line sustained us," J.C. Smith coach Vanessa Taylor said. "We were 25-of-37, so just having the opportunity at the line allowed us to create a little bit of separation."

J.C. Smith took a 25-15 lead into halftime, but the Tigers pulled within 35-31 early in the second half with Katrina Wright providing an offensive spark. J.C. Smith countered with a 10-5 run. Although St. Paul's sliced the deficit to five on the second of consecutive Juantale Cook baskets, the Bulls kept their composure.

Other games

FAYETTEVILLE STATE 86, SAINT AUGUSTINE'S 76: Leticia Dickson scored 19 and L'Oreal Price 17 to help the fifth-seeded Broncos rally from a 17-point, first-half deficit and beat the fourth-seeded Falcons.

Kelly Bural scored 15 and Chanel Kinard and Whitney Griffis 14 apiece for Saint Augustine's, which was ahead 27-10 with 10 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first half before Fayetteville State reeled off a 20-4 surge.

BOWIE STATE 67, VIRGINIA UNION 59: Lakisha Walker scored 12 and Bianca Lee and Sherika Thomas chipped in with 11 apiece to boost the No. 2-seeded Bulldogs (22-5) into Friday's semifinal against Johnson C. Smith.

The Panthers (4-23), who trailed by 13 at halftime, got 16 points from Ashley Hill.

SHAW 73, VIRGINIA STATE 52: The top-seeded Bears (19-11) got 50 points from their reserves to cruise past the No. 9-seeded Trojans (11-18).

Jamie Goshen scored 22 and NaKeisha Anthony 16 for Shaw, which led 38-23 at halftime.

Katania Walker scored a game-high 21 for the Trojans.