NEW YORK, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2012)-Senior
Omara Parker came off the bench to score a game- and career-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range to help the visiting Lady Bears end their season-long 10 game losing skid, following a 70-66 non-conference win over Columbia on Wednesday afternoon at Levien Gymnasium.
Fellow senior
DeKeisha Mathis added 21 points and connected on 5-of-9 from three-point range, as Morgan State avenged their loss to Columbia in the consolation game of the 2005 UMBC Tournament and even the all-time series at 1-1 apiece.
Columbia (2-12) was led by Tyler Simpson, who scored a team-high 20 points, while Melissa Shafer, who scored 13 points in the first half, finished with 17 for the Lions, who have now lost seven of their last eight contests.
Morgan State closed out the final six minutes of the first half on a 15-4 run, including the final 12 points of the half in the span of three minutes to take a 28-26 lead at the intermission.
Morgan State trailed 26-16 with 3:18 to play, when Parker began to take over. Parker scored nine straight points for the Lady Bears to pull Morgan State within 26-25 with 26.3 left in the half.
The Lady Bears then got a stop on the defensive end and Mathis raced up the floor and pulled up at the top of the key and drained a three-pointer to give the guests their first lead of the game and a 28-26 halftime advantage.
The teams traded leads back and forth, until Morgan State used a 10-0 run to take a 49-40 lead after a basket by
Amarah Williams with 11:14 remaining in the contest.
Morgan held an 11-point cushion with 3:21 to play after back-to-back three-pointers by Parker and Mathis, respectively.
But the Lions would not go away, using a 9-0 run to pull within 65-63 with 1:06 to go, but
Moneshia Davis and Mathis would combine to hit 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch for the victory.
After 15 consecutive grueling road games to start the season, Morgan State is finally coming home. The Lady Bears will play in front of the friendly confides of Hill Field House for the first time during the 2011-12 season when they play host to Norfolk State in a MEAC game on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m.
