(NEWPORT NEWS, V.A.) — Andrienne Terrell was perfect from behind the 3-point arc on the game, but it was her 35-foot prayer that was the decisive factor in a hotly contested victory over the Christopher Newport Captains, 57-54. Greensboro has played two nail-biters with the Captains this season, losing 48-42 on January 14th, but this pivotal win allows them to remain tied for the second seed in the USA South with just two conference matches remaining before the post-season.
Both teams came out playing hard and neither was able to find breathing room early in the game, as the teams traded baskets for nearly ten minutes. Greensboro took the first small advantage on a three-pointer by Bianca Richburg, which pushed their lead to 14-8. The Pride would hold their slim lead until the Captains pieced together an 8-1 run with two minutes remaining in the first to take a 20-19 lead. Greensboro answered with four points of their own, and took a 23-20 advantage into the half.
Christopher Newport re-took the lead with the first two baskets of the second half, but neither team would lead by more than three points until the 7:34 mark. Danielle Duncan hit two free throws to make it a two possession game, then hit a jumper a minute and a half later, followed by an assist to Richburg to claim a 47-42 lead.
The Captains refused to be put down, however, and the teams traded free throws before Nicole Mitchell hit a long three to cut the deficit to one. Duncan would find her way to the basket again and, following a CNU turnover, Terrell hit her second three of the game to give The Pride a 54-48 advantage with under a minute remaining. The Captains, inexplicably, found their way back into the game, scoring six straight and setting up the dramatic finish.
Following the game tying jumper, the ball was inbounded to Terrell with just 3.3 seconds remaining on the clock. That proved to be exactly enough time for the senior, as she flew down the floor and threw up a heave from 35 feet. The long, sailing shot found the bottom of the net to give Greensboro their biggest victory of the season.
The Pride got excellent offensive play out of their All-American, as Danielle Duncan scored 22 points, grabbed four offensive rebounds, and dished out three assists. On the defensive end, she grabbed five rebounds (for a total of nine) and blocked three shots. Terrell was the only other Greensboro player to break double-digits, scoring 11, but she was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc, including the game winner.
Greensboro is now 18-4 on the season and 13-3 in conference play with just three games remaining before the conference tournament. They are currently tied with Christopher Newport for second place in the USA South.
The next opponent for The Pride is NAIA-affiliated Allen University, who they defeated 78-65 earlier this season. Greensboro will finish their conference slate with a game at Averett before returning home for the season finale against Shenandoah.
Head coach Randy Tuggle’s squad has already claimed home court advantage for the first round of the tournament and can still take home that elusive regular season conference title if they can win their final two games and Ferrum loses both of their final games. Tournament play begins on February 18th, for more information visit: http://usasouth.net/championships/winter_championships