Sharonda Watson hits a Morgan State record (8) 3-pointers in the double overtime win over South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon.
Box Score
It had been 2 years, 9 days, 19 hours, 25 seconds, and 33 painful conference defeats since the Morgan State Lady Bears (1-13, 1-5 MEAC) last won a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference basketball game. All of that frustration came to an exciting, heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, exhilarating end when MSU defeated the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State in an 84-83 double overtime thriller in front of 525 fans at Hill Field House on the MSU campus Saturday afternoon.
The win over the Lady 'Dogs also was the 1st win for MSU this season, and ended their overall losing streak at 30 games.
MSU had not won a conference game since a January 8, 2002, 56-49 defeat of the Lady Aggies of North Carolina A&T. Their last overall win was on December 21, 2002 when they beat Towson University 46-43 at the Towson Center.
However, the Lady Bears put all those bad memories in the rear view mirror with easily their best overall performance in four years. MSU made more shots (34), hit more 3's (10), and scored more points (84) than in any game in the last four seasons.
Amazingly, the Lady Bears were out-rebounded 72-40, but made up for it by forcing 29 Lady Bulldog turnovers and holding SCSU to 35% shooting from the floor. MSU shot a season high 43% from the floor for the game.
The big gun for MSU was junior Sharonda Watson, who poured in a career high 26 points in the game. Ms. Watson nailed a school record eight 3-pointers, including some big shots in regulation and overtime to help MSU pull out the victory.
The Lady Bears got a huge game from freshman guard Whitney Johnson who had 20 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
Sophomore forward Jennyffer Vargas had her first double/double of the season. Ms. Vargas scored 14 points, collected 10 rebounds, and the MEAC's leading shot blocker had 6 blocked shots.
The game was close for much of the first half. The Lady Bulldogs led for much of the 1st 20 minute session, but were never able to completely shake MSU. The Lady 'Dogs used a 7-1 run at the end of the half to take a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
MSU came out of the locker room with a bang. They went on a 17-6 run, and took a 46-43 lead on a Sharonda Watson 3-pointer with 14:06 left in the game. It was the first time this season MSU had a 2nd half lead.
The Lady Bear lead grew to 6 points, before the Lady Bulldogs went on a 10-2 spurt to regain the lead in the final minutes of regulation. But MSU kept fighting back, and a Watson 3-ball gave MSU a 70-69 lead with 28 seconds left in regulation.
SCSU's Evena Morency hit a free throw with 13 seconds left to tie the game at 70, and that's how regulation ended.
In the first overtime the Bulldogs took a four point lead on a Latasha Cook layup. However another Watson 3-pointer and some clutch free throw shooting gave MSU a 78-76 lead in the final minute of the first overtime.
SCSU's Asahki Brown hit a jumper with 35 seconds left to tie the game at 78 and sent us into a second overtime.
MSU would never trail in the 2nd overtime. Although the Lady Bear lead would never be larger than four points, MSU continued to hit big shots and get the big stops at big moments.
The biggest stop came with 11 seconds left in double overtime and SCSU down 84-83. The Lady 'Dogs cleared out and put the ball and the game in the hands of their leading scorer and All-MEAC candidate Nicole Rhem. Ms. Rhem drove to the basket and missed a running lay-up with 2 seconds left and two Lady Bears in her face. MSU's Jennyffer Vargas grabbed the rebound and the Lady Bears ran out the clock to secure their first MEAC win in two seasons.
The Lady Bears return to the floor to take on North Carolina A&T at Hill Field House on Monday, January 19th. Tip-time is set for 5:30p.m.
