Nationally Ranked Baylor Beats Pirates in Championship Game
December 05, 2004 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? Tournament Most Valuable Player Emily Niemann scored a game-high 18 points and Sophia Young chipped in 17 to lead Baylor past East Carolina 80-59 in the championship game of the CPW's/Atavola's Lady Pirate Invitational at Minges Coliseum on the ECU campus Sunday.
Niemann was 7-of-11 from the field, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range to lead the ninth-ranked Bears, who shot 54.2 percent from the field, a season high. Baylor's Steffanie Blackmon was also in double-figure scoring with 13 points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
The Bears (6-1) broke open a close game with a 10-0 run near the midway point of the first half. They led 35-22 at halftime and pushed the advantage to as many as 28 late in the second half. Baylor shot a torrid 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the field in the second half to break the game open.
Three East Carolina players were in double figures, led by Viola Cooper's 13 points. Shanita Sutton and Samantha Pankey each scored 12 for the Pirates (2-5), who turned the ball over 21 times and made just 37 percent of their field goal attempts. ECU did outrebound the Bears 33-30, led by Sutton and LaToya Horton who both finished with five rebounds.
The Pirates will be back on the court Sunday, Dec. 12 when they face instate foe Wake Forest inside Williams Arena with a 4 p.m. tip scheduled.
All-Tournament Team
Carena Easley (Jackson State)
LaToya Mills (Stephen F. Austin)
Jennifer Jackson (East Carolina)
Sophia Young (Baylor)
Emily Niemann (Baylor)
East Carolina vs. Baylor
Dec. 5, 2004
Post Game Notes
