Shauna Cook
The Corsair
The Lady Pirates took Third Place at the 2011-2012 NJCAA National Championship in Salina, Kansas on Saturday, March 24 against Central Arizona winning 73-72. This is the second year in a row for the Pensacola State Lady Pirates to make it to the National Championship and place third out of 16 teams nationwide.
Pensacola State went in as the fourth seed with a record of 28-4 and played the third seed, Central Arizona from Coolidge, Ariz. with a record of 31-2 for third and fourth place.
Starting for the Lady Pirates were 5’9 Sophomore Guard from Natchitoches, La. #3 Brandy Broome, 5’9 Sophomore Guard/Forward from Pensacola #15 Jasmine Richardson, 5’8 Sophomore Guard from Dale City, Va. #22 Kyana Jacobs, 6’2 Freshman Guard/Forward from East St. Louis, Ill. #25 TeAndrea Smith and 5’7 Sophomore Guard from Natchitoches, La. #33 Darnisha Hamilton.
Starting for the Lady Vaqueras were 6’2 Soophomore Forward from Sacramento, Calif. #2 Shanice Butler, 6′ Sophomore Guard from British Virginn Islands #4 Tamara Phillip, 5’3 Freshman Guard from Midland, Tx #10 Paris Webb, 5’8 Sophomore Guard from Chandler, Ariz. #22 Katrina Ottesen and 6’3 Sophomore Forward from Monrovia, Calif. #24 September Offutt.
To tipoff were Smith for Pensacola State and Butler for Central Arizona. PSC took possession of the ball. The first basket of the game was made by CACs Phillip to put the Lady Vaqueras up 2-0.
At 16:12 PSCs Hamilton hits a three to put the Lady Pirates in the lead 9-8. Then Ottesen scored to put the Lady Vaqueras ahead 10-9. Richardson scored for Pensacola to put them ahead 11-10 and would keep them in the lead for the remainder of the first half leaving the score 37-33 at halftime after Hamilton scores another three from way back with 2 seconds remaining on the clock.
First half stats for Pensacola State were Jacobs with 10 points, 2 assists and 1 steal, Smith with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, Broome with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, Hamilton with 6 points and 3 rebounds, Richardson with 4 points and 5 rebounds, Mitchell with 2 points and 1 rebound, Ellison with 1 assist and 3 steals, Davis with 2 rebounds and Watkins with 1 rebound and 1 block.
First half game stats were Total FG%: 13-34 (38.2%), 3pt FG%: 3-10 (30.0%), FT%: 8-10 (80.0%) and Deadball Rebounds- 1.
First half stats for Central Arizona were Ottesen with 10 points, Offutt with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal, Tamara Phillip with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal, Townsend with 6 points and 2 rebounds, Webb with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, Pitts with 2 rebounds, Tafara Phillip with 3 rebounds, and Moore with 1 rebound and 1 steal.
First half stats were Total FG%: 14-31 (45.2%), 3pt FG%: 2-12 (16.7%), FT% 3-6 (50.0%) and Deadball Rebounds- 2.
Game stats for the first half were Points off Turnovers: PSC- 18 CAC- 13, Points in the Paint: PSC- 18 CAC- 16, 3Pt Efficiency: PSC- 2.2 CAC- -25.4, Second Effort Points: PSC- 8 CAC-5 3 Point Points: PSC- 9 CAC- 6, Points/Shot: PSC- 0.95 CAC- 0.97, Bench Points: PSC- 2 CAC-8, Free Throw Points: PSC- 8 CAC- 3 Defensive Shots: PSC- 26 CAC- 29, Largest Lead: 20-26 (6 points, PSC), Lead Changes: 3 and Number of Ties: o.
At the beginning of the second half, Townsend scores a three to put Central Arizona down by one (36-37). Then PSCs Jacobs scores a two and Hamilton hits another three to put the Lady Pirates ahead by six (42-36).
The Lady Vaqueras tied the game 48-48 at 11:10 in the second half. From there, it would go to tie and a back and forth lead throughout the game between Pensacola State and Central Arizona.
It was tied 69-69 with 51.6 on the clock. PSCs Smith would score to put them ahead by two (71-69). Lady Pirate Ellison fouled out with 23.0 on the clock to put CACs Webb at the freethrow line to score two putting the Lady Vaqueras down by one (71-72).
From there, Central Arizona would foul PSC back to back to put them at the free throw line to continuously score to put them ahead for the win.
Second half stats for Pensacola State were Smith with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals, Hamilton with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal, Broome with 12 points, 4 assists and 2 steals, Jacobs with 12 points, 4 assists and 2 steals, Richardson with 6 points and 8 rebounds, Ellison with 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal, Mitchell with 4 points and 4 rebounds, Watkins with 2 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block, Davis with 2 rebounds and Alex with 1 rebound.
Game stats for the second half were Total FG%: 14-38 (36.8%), 3pt FG%: 1-7 (14.3%), FT%: 7-15 (46.7%) and Deadball Rebounds- 4. Final game stats were Total FG%: 27-72 (37.5%), 3pt FG%: 4-17 (23.5%), FT%: 15-25 (60.0%).
Second half stats for Central Arizona were Offutt with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal, Townsend with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 1 steal, Ottesen with 12 points and 1 rebound, Webb with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals, Tamara Phillip with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, Butler with 4 points and 3 rebounds, Moore with 3 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal, Oladele with 2 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, Pitts with 3 rebounds and Tafara Phillip with 3 rebounds.
Game stats for the second half were Total FG%: 12-31 (38.7%), 3pt FG%: 2-4 (50.0%), FT%: 13-17 (76.5%), and Deadball Rebounds- 3. Final game stats were Total FT%: 26-62 (41.9%), 3pt FG%: 4-16 (25.0%), and FT%: 16-23 (69.6%).
Final stats for Points off Turnovers: PSC- 22 CAC- 18, Points in the Paint: PSC- 36 CAC- 30, 3pt Efficiency: PSC- -4.3 CAC- -6.9, Second Effort Points: PSC- 19 CAC- 6, Points/Shot: PSC- 0.87 CAC- 0.99, Bench Points: PSC-11 CAC- 24, Free Throw Points: PSC- 15 CAC- 16, Defensive Stops: PSC- 46 CAC- 51, Largest Lead: 20-26 (6 points, PSC), Lead Changes: 7 and Number of Ties: 8.
The overall season record for the Pensacola State Lady Pirates is 28-5 and the Central Arizona Lady Vaqueras overall record is 31-2.