Bowie State University Athletics

BOX SCORE

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) The fourth-seeded Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University claimed their first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament championship since 2001 and the school's third overall with a convincing 66-50 triumph over No. 2 Bowie State University.

Senior L'Oreal Price and junior Mercedes Humphries proved to be a powerful one-two punch for Fayetteville State (20-9), combining for 37 points. Price converted 10 of 15 shots from the field to produce a season-high 22 points, while Humphries sank four 3-point baskets and scored 15 points.

The Lady Broncos posted their largest margin of victory in the finals, rolling over a Bowie State Lady Bulldogs team they had split two games with during the regular season. They did so after a slow start in which they led just 29-26 at halftime.

But an early 7-0 spurt in the second half, keyed by two 3-pointers from point guard Danielle Russell, boosted FSU's advantage from three to 11 points. Bowie State (18-8) never got closer than nine the rest of the way. Every time Bowie State attempted to make a run at the Broncos, Price stepped up with a basket.

Humphries was inserted into the starting lineup for the championship game to offset the guard-oriented Bowie State lineup. She responded by going 5-for-13 from the field and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.

Fayetteville State held Bowie State to 17-of-70 shooting (24 percent) and outrebound the Lady Bulldogs 60 to 41.

Junior Tiffany Haywood, who scored only six points but had 15 rebounds in the finals for the Lady Broncos, was named the tournament's most valuable player.

Bowie State senior Bianca Lee (Temple Hills, MD, Archbishop Carroll) led all players with a game-high 24 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Other BSU players joining Lee on the All-Tournament Team include junior Lakisha Walker (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) and sophomore Juliette Turner (Silver Spring, MD, John F. Kennedy).

Bowie State began the tournament ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region Poll and must now wait and see if the Lady Bulldogs will receive an invitation to the NCAA Division II opening round dance. Pairings for that event will be announced March 7.