East Carolina University
UNC-Wilmington
Late Free Throws Lift Women's Basketball to 57-52 Win Over UNC Wilmington
December 06, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2006
East Carolina 57, UNC Wilmington 52 (PDF) 
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - Jessica Slack's free throws with 13 seconds remaining in the game lifted East Carolina to a 57-52 win over intra-state rival UNC Wilmington Wednesday evening at Minges Coliseum. With the win, the Lady Pirates improve to 4-5 on the year, going 3-1 in their four-game home stand. The Seahawks fall to 4-4 on the season.
Jasmine Young started things off for the Lady Pirates, connecting on her first three-pointer of the night in the first minute of the game. Her trey sparked a 10-3 run by ECU, capped off by a three-point play by LaCoya Terry at the 14:51 mark. The Seahawks kept the game close, getting within one, 14-13, on a Sahsha Taylor layup with 9:49 remaining in the half. Cherie Mills' jumper with 4:36 on the clock gave ECU the eight point, 26-18, lead. A three-pointer by Stephanie Fernald on the next possession combined with a pair of Drake free throws, cut the ECU lead down to three, 26-23, with 3:55 remaining in the half. Back to back jumpers by Young extended the ECU lead to seven, 32-25, with under three minutes in the first half. The Lady Pirates took a nine point lead into the locker room thanks to a three-pointer as time expired by Young, making the halftime score 39-30.
Drake led all scorers with 14 at the break, while ECU's Young had a team-high 12 points. ECU out rebounded the Seahawks 19-16 and forced nine UNCW turnovers, resulting in 11 ECU points.
East Carolina opened the second half on a 4-0 run, extending its lead to 13, 43-30 with 19:20 on the clock. Fernald scored back to back baskets to cut the Lady Pirate lead to nine, 43-34, with 18:06 to play in the game. ECU answered, scoring on two straight possessions and extending its lead 12 on an Impris Manning jumper. The Seahawks continued to battle, going on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes, cutting the ECU lead to just three, 46-43, with 12:09 to play. A three-point play by Young at the 9:29 mark put the Lady Pirates up 52-45 but a pair of free throws by Denise Lawrence cut the lead back down to five, 52-47. Fernald's layup with 2:47 remaining in the game cut the ECU lead to two, 52-50. Young's free throw with 2:06 on the clock ended a seven and a half minute scoring drought, putting ECU back up by three, 53-50. UNCW's Becca Papach pulled the Seahawks within one, 53-52, with 2:06 to play, but a free throw by Mills at the 1:50 mark gave ECU the three point lead. Young, who was fouled with 19.5 seconds in the game, hit her first free throw. Her second attempt hit the rim and bounced out, but it was Nicole Days who came up with the rebound. Slack's free throws with 13.0 on the clock sealed the game, as the Lady Pirates held on for the 57-52 victory.
Young led all scorers with 18 points, including two baskets from behind the arc. She added five assists and four steals on the night. Mills finished with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Drake led UNCW with 16 points, adding 11 rebounds for the double-double.
The Lady Pirates return to action on Sunday, Dec. 10 as they travel to in-state foe North Carolina State for the 37th meeting between the two schools. Tip-off from Reynolds Gym is slated for 2:00 p.m.
