FSU Women Take CIAA Tournament, Men Fall Just Short
posted by Nicholas Robinson-Carter, Zaire Jones | March 5, 2024 | In News, SportsBoth of our men’s and women’s basketball teams made it to the CIAA Championship over the weekend. Unfortunately, they didn’t come up with the same result as the men lost in a 54-51 heartbreaker to Lincoln University. However, the women would cap off their stellar season with a CIAA Championship win over Elizabeth City State University, 64-59.
For the women’s CIAA Tournament, our Broncos would start off 5-15 from the field in the first quarter. They were able to get to line 4 times and make 3-4.
After trailing 17-13 in the first, the Broncos would intensify the defense and get going on offense. The field goal percentage would increase slightly and got to the stripe and made 80% of their free throws. The Broncos would win the quarter 15-7 and be up 28-24 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Elizabeth City State were able to pull away slightly due to the 3s. Elizabeth City State made 3-7 of their 3s and made all 4 attempts of free throws. The Broncos couldn’t make their 3s but were able to continue to get to the line. They were a little less efficient this quarter with 57% at the free throw line. The Broncos, despite their struggles, held a 44-43 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Broncos would continue to get to the free throw line at ease, going to stripe 10 times. FSU would make all 10 of their free throws in the fourth. The stifling defense would be on display allowing only 23% field goal percentage. Their only downfall was foul trouble. Elizabeth City State would go to the free throw line 9 times, making 6 of them. Free throws were the story of the game for both sides, and it led to the FSU Broncos to finish the game with a CIAA Championship.
Four Broncos scored in double figures as Aniylah Bryant, Talia Trotter and Nyah Wilkins all had 12 points. Keayna McLaughlin would be the leading scorer for FSU with 17 and was huge in the Broncos sealing the championship.
McLaughlin was named the Food Lion Women’s Championship MVP. Aniylah Bryant was named the MVP of CIAA Women’s Tournament. The CIAA All Tournament had two of our Broncos: Wilkins and Bryant.
For the men, the leading scorers for our Broncos were Caleb Simmons with 21 and 6 rebounds, Tairell Fletcher with 10, and Kaleb Coleman with 8 to go along with 12 rebounds.
In the first half of the men’s Championship, it was a tight game. The Broncos had a 7-point lead at one point, but Lincoln would come back to make a one-point game with under 3 minutes to go. The Broncos were able to hold a one-point advantage as halftime hit. Despite the poor shooting, the Broncos made three 3-pointers to Lincoln’s one 3.
Entering the second half, the game was still a close game, with neither team willing to give up a huge run. Back and forth, both FSU and Lincoln went. The story of the half was constant fouls for both teams. The Broncos went to the stripe 18 times going 12-18. Lincoln went to the stripe 20 times and made 14 of them. This would propel Lincoln to victory and a championship.
Although it was the finish they didn’t want, the FSU Men’s should be proud of the season that they produced as it was a fun season for Bronco faithful.
Congratulations to all the women and their fantastic journey on their way to a CIAA Championship.
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