Box Score AIKEN, SC--Fort Valley State used a 15-2 run in the final quarter of play to turn a two-point game into a decisive 79-70 win over the home-standing USC Aiken Lady Pacers on Wednesday night in the final game of the ConocoPhillips Christmas Classic. FVSU forced 27 turnovers in defeating the Lady Pacers in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Augusta State downed Allen 69-50 in the night's first game.
Latasha Pearson entered the two-day tournament averaging 1.0 ppg and just 6.4 minutes per contest. In 21 minutes of action, the 5-8 freshman guard from Trotwood, Ohio connected on 3-of-4 three-pointers in scoring 10 of her career-high 16 points in the second half. Fort Valley State entered the tournament having made 17-of-76 three-pointers (22.4 percent), but after a cold 5-of-21 performance in yesterday's loss to Augusta State, the Lady Wildcats connected on 10-of-21 for the game for the difference maker (47.6 percent).
Trailing 53-46 with 11:52 to play in the second half,
Kasey Mills drained a three-pointer and
Katie Gebhardt converted a fast break lay-up one minute later to narrow the margin to 53-51. Gebhardt came off the bench in the final three minutes of the first half to ignite the Lady Pacers with eight points before half. She finished 5-of-7 from the field, 3-of-4 from deep, and 2-of-3 at the stripe for a career-best 15 points in 18 minutes.
Three consecutive possessions resulting in a pair of charity tosses for FVSU, however, sparked a 15-2 run capped by Pearson's triple with 6:40 remaining to give the Lady Wildcats their largest lead of the game 68-53.
Trailing 75-60 with 4:13 to play, USC Aiken fought back to within eight at 76-68 on a Gebhardt steal and a
Sarah Kendrick lay-up with 1:18 to play. A missed free throw and then a three-pointer off the mark halted the Lady Pacer rally. Kendrick finished with a team-high 17 points to go with five rebounds and six assists.
With 12:20 to play in the first half, freshman point guard
Gezel Virella went down with an injury, was helped off the court, and did not return. Already playing without starting point guard
Mindy Allee who was lost for the season with a torn ACL, USC Aiken's depth at point guard was tested against a tenacious pressing defense.
Tarpkins opened play with a three-pointer only to see the Lady Pacers counter with a 10-0 run to claim a 10-3 lead with 16:41 to play in the first half following a Mills' lay-up. Mills scored nine of her 13 points in the opening 10 minutes. Tarpkins led the Lady Wildcats with 20 points, eight assists, and four steals.
FVSU reclaimed the lead with a 14-2 run to push ahead 17-12 on a Tamara Warner bucket at 12:43 of the first stanza.
Erica Larsen's only three-pointer of the game came at 7:11 to give the Lady Pacers back the lead 23-22. But another run by FVSU, a 9-0 spurt, propelled the Lady Wildcats to a 39-35 halftime edge. A competitive first half witnessed three ties and eight lead changes.
Amanda Ray had 15 points and nine boards for Fort Valley State.
USC Aiken out rebounded the Lady Wildcats 41-39, but lost the turnover battle 27-19.
USC Aiken will break for the holidays before returning to action on Saturday, January 3, 2004 when they host Presbyterian at 2:00 PM in the final non-conference game of the season.
SCORING:
Fort Valley State (79): Sherika Tarpkins 20, Latasha Pearson 16, Amanda Ray 15, Shanika Carter 8, Denedra Fields 7, Tamara Warner 6, Krystle Scott 5, Kristina Green 2
ConocoPhillips Christmas Classic
All-Tournament Team
Katara Myers, Allen
Sherika Tarpkins, Fort Valley State
Amanda Ray, Fort Valley State
Ernesia Wideman, Augusta State
Alshaa' Hodges, Augusta State
MVP: Ernesia Wideman, Augusta State
