LaQuanda Brandon’s Season-High 23 Points Leads UDC to, 74-71, Win Over Shaw

Raleigh, NC : February 19, 2009—Senior guard LaQuanda Brandon (Washington, DC) scored a season-high 23 points to lead the number 23 ranked University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women’s Basketball Team to a, 74-71, win over the Shaw University Bears tonight at the Spaulding Gymnasium in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brandon also collected four rebounds and dished out two assists in the winning effort.

Three other Firebirds joined Brandon in double figures. Sophomore center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) recorded her 11th double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Senior guard Deyshia Williams (Camden, NJ) added 13 points and seven rebounds, and senior guard DeVaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ) followed with 10 points, one rebound and seven assists.

Shaw led 53-31 at the break, on 43% shooting from the field (13-30) to UDC’s 52% (13-25), with three-point field goals making the difference in the score. Shaw shot 46% (5-11) from beyond the arc in the first half, while UDC shot 25% (2-8). Shaw led the entire half, despite a 15 point performance from Brandon and 13 points from Williams.

Hailey gave the Firebirds their first lead of the game with 13:31 remaining when she stole the ball and scored on a fast break to make the score 41-39. The Bears briefly regained the lead twice more before the Firebirds took control when Williams drained a three- pointer with 6:41 remaining in the game and held on to the lead for the win.

UDC shot 53% (32-60) from the field, 27% (4-15) from beyond the arc, and 38% (6-16) from the charity stripe for the game. Shaw shot 43% (26-60) from the field, 39% (10-26) from three-point range, and 60% (9-15) from the free-throw line.

Celanese Bozeman scored a game-high 26 points in the losing cause for the Bears, and Tanisha McGaughey added 15 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Curtisha Jones with 14 points and five rebounds.

With this win, UDC improved their record to 24-4, while Shaw fell to 12-12. This game closed out the regular season for the Firebirds, as Fayetteville State University cancelled their home game against UDC at the last minute.