Dec. 12, 2009
Final Stats
WILSON, NC - Fayetteville State dropped a close 64-57 loss to Barton College on Saturday in its last game of 2009. The Broncos (4-3 overall) held a slim 29-27 lead at intermission. Trailing 54-42 with 8:35 left in the second half, FSU went on a 15-3 run to tie the game 57-57 with 3:48 left. Senior Tiffany Haywood had a team-high 13 points, while sophomore center Deja Middleton grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. FSU had a season high 25 offensive rebounds and forced 23 Bulldogs' turnovers.
Down 58-57 with 40 seconds left in the game, FSU came up short on four different possessions that would've allowed the Lady Broncos a chance to tie or take over the lead. Three of those possessions ended in turnovers.
"Those were the keys to winning a ball game on the road," first-year head coach Eva Patterson-Heath said. "I put it up on the board during practice. It's about what's on the inside."
Patterson-Heath said the mental mistakes, turnovers and poor free-throw shooting were caused by a lack of focus.
"When you come into someone else's home, you know you're going to have to play your best game," she said. "You can't just put your jersey on before a game and be ready to play. It's just inexcusable."
Junior forward LaPorshe Hokett said the five-minute comeback stretch was an example of how well FSU can play. However, she said the team needs more consistency.
"We should've kept that up," she said. "It was kind of like we fell back a little bit. If we could've kept that up, good things would've probably happened."
Jannetta Robinson scored a game-high 18 points for the Bulldogs while reigning Carolinas Conference Player of the Year Esty Flores was held to just 11 points.
"She got in foul trouble a little bit in the first half," Patterson-Heath said of Flores. "But, we did a good job on her for most of the game."
Tierra Coleman,
Tressa Aughburns and L'oreal Price each had six points. The Broncos won't play again until they host CIAA-rival Elizabeth City State on Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Hokett believes one thing needs to happen between now and the matchup with the Vikings.
"As a team, we need to come together," she said. "With all the talent we have, if we can put it together we could be an outstanding team. I think that's the only thing that's holding us back. We just have to come together."
