THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603030195
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Norfolk State won't be going to the Division II NCAA women's tournament this season, but that didn't stop the Spartanettes from going all the way in the CIAA tournament.
Behind 28 points from tournament MVP LaTina Bullock and a solid all-around defensive performance, the Spartanettes downed Shaw University 71-58 Saturday night at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The victory avenged the Spartanettes' only loss of the season, a 77-61 setback at Shaw over a month ago, and gave Norfolk State its second consecutive CIAA tournament title and fifth in six years.
It also spelled the end to Norfolk State's season. Because the school has applied for Division I status after next season, the Spartanettes are ineligible for Division II postseason play, finishing 28-1.
Unlike the two teams' first meeting, Norfolk State controlled the tempo this time and was able to contain Shaw's two primary weapons, small forward Stephanie Greer and point guard Ayana Winston, both all-tournament selections.
Greer finished with 16 points, but was able to get off only 10 shots from the field as the Spartanettes double-teamed her every time she touched the ball. As for Winston, she scored 10 points on 5-of-20 shooting from the field, 15 points less than she did the first time around.
Norfolk State, meanwhile, worked its high-low offensive post game to perfection as Bullock scored 21 first-half points.
``That was open against their 2-3 zone the last time we played them, but we just couldn't make it work,'' said forward Michelle Sessoms, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and joined teammates Bullock and Lamonica Filer on the all-tournament team. ``It was open again and we knew we had to attack it by going to the center.''
Foul problems limited Sessoms to just 22 minutes, but center Selena Edward and guard Raymona Jackson made up for Sessoms' limited play with big games.
The 6-foot-3 Edward blocked three shots and had a game-high nine rebounds as the Spartanettes outrebounded Shaw 47-30.
Jackson, meanwhile, came off the bench to score 11 points, canning 7 of 9 free-throw attempts in the second half when the Bears (24-4) took a foul-and-run approach.
``We felt if we got a lead, they couldn't play from behind,'' Norfolk State coach James Sweat said. ``They're a great team with a lead. But when they were behind, they rushed their shots and possessions.''
Other all-tournament picks were Chellia Nelson of Winston-Salem State, Kimberly Taylor of Shaw, Brandey Lemons and Kimberly McCall of Bowie State; and Marquia Ziyad of St. Augustine's. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk State's Latina Bullock is fouled by Kimberly Shaw, right.
Bullock led NSU with 28 points.
by CNB