TOWSON, Md. – Chicago State women's basketball continue play in the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Friday evening with a close 62-57 loss to North Carolina A&T in a consolation game at the Towson Center. The Cougars fell to 0-3 on the young season, while the Aggies improved their record to 1-1.
NCAT posted a 12-7 lead just five minutes into the game after a layup by sophomore Crystal Murdaugh at the 15:03 mark. CSU responded with a quick 6-2 scoring drive in over a minute to close its deficit to 14-13 at 13:14 on a basket by sophomore Jael Peña (Harlem, N.Y.). The Cougars later went on a 28-21 run over a near 13-minute span behind eight points from senior Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) to capture a 41-35 advantage before senior Tyronnica Alford scored on a layup at the four-second mark to cut CSU's leading margin to 41-37 at the break.
A free throw by senior Laureen Pierson (Dayton, OH/Northmont) (Dayton, Ohio) and a jumper from junior Caila Desroches (Long Island, NY/Monroe CC) (Long Island, N.Y.) helped the Cougars maintain their advantage at 44-40 at the 17:51 mark of the second half. The leading margin remained the same when Desroches canned another jumper at 11:09 to make it 49-45 in CSU's favor before NCAT scored six straight points to reclaim the lead at 51-49 after a layup from junior Jalesa Sams at 9:02. After junior Tressa Beckel (Waseca, Minn./Wisconsin) (Waseca, Minn.) tied the game at 51 with a layup at the 7:31 mark, the Aggies scored an 8-3 run over a seven-minute stretch to capture a 59-54 lead with 56 seconds remaining. Waldon canned a three at the 20-second mark to slice the Cougars' deficit to 59-57, but a free throw by freshman Amber Calvin and a layup by senior Lamona Smalley in the final seconds sealed the game.
Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) led Chicago State with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, while Desroches recorded 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and the free throw line. Junior Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) added 11 points, seven assists and four steals, and sophomore Janay Dockery (Detroit, MI/Martin Luther King) (Detroit, Mich.) posted five rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Tu'Wuana Cook led North Carolina A&T with 18 points and four assists. Smalley scored 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Sams added seven points and six rebounds.
The Cougars close Preseason WNIT play Saturday evening with a consolation contest against Winthrop at the Towson Center beginning at 5 p.m.
~CSU~
