Candace Holmes posted her 2nd consecutive double/double (13 points/16 rebounds)
Box Score
The Morgan State University Lady Bears (0-3, 0-0 MEAC) played a strong 1st half, but tumbled in the 2nd half. In the end, MSU dropped a tough 80-47 decision to Navy on Tuesday evening in Annapolis, MD.
The Lady Bears shot a sizzling 52% in the first half, and played with the Middies basket for basket for much of the opening half. Mid-way through the first half a 3-pointer by Sharonda Watson pulled Morgan State to within 2 points at 19-17. Morgan would get no closer. Navy went on a 10-2 spurt to take command in the waning minutes of the 1st half.
The Middies had a 39-30 edge at the break.
After intermission things changed drastically. MSU hit only 6 of 32 shots in the 2nd half, and the Lady Bears were out-scored 41-17. The Lady Bears would never get closer than 11 points for the balance of the ballgame.
Morgan State hit only 5 of 15 free throws, and they turned the ball over 28 times.
The Lady Bears were led by Candace Holmes who posted her second consecutive double/double. Candace had 13 points, and led all players with 16 rebounds. Both are season highs. Holmes is coming off a 12 point/12 rebound performance against the Racers of Murray State last weekend.
Freshman Whitney Johnson scored a season high 8 points and grabbed three steals against Navy. Junior Sharonda Watson contributed 7 points to the Lady Bear cause.
Navy was led by Adrienne Roseti who scored 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Middie guard Courtney Davidson had a 16 point evening, while Nikki Curtis chipped in 11 points.
Both teams are going places. Navy is on their way to Hawaii to participate in a Holiday tournament on the island.
The Lady Bears will be on the opposite end of the geographic spectrum. MSU will spend the Thanksgiving weekend in Fairbanks, Alaska as participants in the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Holiday Tournament. Tournament participants include; Morgan State, The University of Alaska/Fairbanks, Army and Portland State.
The Lady Bears first game of the tournament will be played on Friday, Nov. 28th at 8:00p.m. Fairbanks time, and Midnight eastern time against Alaska/Fairbanks. The consolation and championship games will be played on Saturday, Nov. 29th at 10:00 p.m. and Midnight eastern time.
This will mark the first time any Morgan State University team has participated in any intercollegiate competition in Alaska.
Temperatures in Fairbanks dropped to as low as 30 below zero last week. However, a "Heat Wave" is expected this weekend. Fairbanks officials say they expect the mercury to rise to 9 degrees by game time.
