Charlotte, N.C., -- The Edward Waters women's basketball team captured victories over Johnson C. Smith and Elizabeth City State during the SIAC/CIAA Crossover Challenge over the weekend. The games were hosted by JCSU inside Brayboy Gymnasium.
With the pair of wins, the Lady Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season. In the opening game of the tournament, EWU picked up a, 70-55 victory over JCSU to kickoff their regular season.
The Lady Tigers dominated the Golden Bulls in almost every statistical category as they out rebounded Johnson C. Smith, 20-12 for the game. Edward Waters never trailed in the ball game as they outscored John C. Smith in every quarter but the third. EWU also controlled the points in the paint outscoring JCSU, 36-26. The Edward Waters defense held the Johnson C. Smith to 51.2% shooting from the floor and 41.2% from behind the three-point arc. EWU also added 20 points off 12 turnovers from JCSU. The Lady Tigers shot an impressive 66.7% from the field and 75% from long distance.
E'laijha Brown led all scorers with 20 points on a perfect 9-for-9 shooting from the field. Brown added four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 37 minutes of action. Nekaya Williams added 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting for the game to go along with four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Williams knocked down two three pointers in 32 minutes. Mia Morel chipped in nine points, five rebounds and two assists while going a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Taniah Bowers led all Lady Tigers off the bench with eight points, three rebounds and two steals.
In the final game of the weekend against Elizabeth City State, the Lady Tigers played an exciting back and forth first half as the Vikings took a 29-28 lead into the intermission. But in the third quarter the Lady Tigers outscored the Vikings, 21-12 in the third quarter. While ECSU controlled the painted area by out rebounding EWU, 29-25 and outscoring Edward Waters 40-24 in paint points, the Lady Tigers scored 41 bench points to just 29 points from the Vikings.
Mia Morel led all scorer with 26 points off the bench. Morel shot 8-for-10 from the floor, knocking down four three pointes and sinking four of her five foul shots. Morel added four rebounds and two steals. Simona Henshaw finished the game with 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a game high three steals. Leah Perry compiled six points and three rebounds in 27 reserve minutes and Nekaya Williams chipped in five points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Tigers will return to Jacksonville for their season opener November 12 against Beacon College. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:00am inside the Adams-Jenkins Complex. It will be "Make It A Kid's Day" inside Adam-Jenkins so we encourage all youth around the city to come out and support your Lady Tigers.
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