From Staff Reports
UPPER MARLBORO — Nationally-ranked Allegany College of Maryland came out of an intense meeting with Prince George’s with a 74-68 win, sending the Trojans into the finals of the Maryland JUCO Tournament today against Baltimore City in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Kim Jones, Larae Allen and Dakeea Marshall all recorded double-doubles, and total of four Allegany players reached double-figure points. Prince George’s had 20-plus points from two of its players.
The Owls have been the Trojans fiercest foes all season. Allegany won the first meeting 61-54 on Nov. 16, before the PG gave ACM their only JUCO loss of the season with a 59-57 win on Jan. 27. The meeting on Saturday carried the same passion as the first two.
“It was a very physical and intense game, and our girls played with 100-percent effort for the entire 40 minutes,” said Allegany coach Garett Sherman.
Jones finished with a team-high 19 points to go with 11 rebounds, while Marshall gave the Trojans 17 points and 12 boards. Allen scored 15 points and worked the glass for 12 rebounds. Ashleigh Fossett was the fourth Trojan in double figures when she finished with 12 points.
Prince George’s helped keep it close from sharp shooting from the outside and shooting 85.7% from the foul line. The Owls sank 10 3-pointers (compared to seven twos) and made 24-of-28 from the line.
Brittany Hollins scored 22 points, while Asyja Smith contributed with 20. Carla Russell finished with 12 points.
Allegany will now meet Baltimore City in the finals today at 3 p.m. The Panthers fell 51-50 to the Trojans in last season’s JUCO finals, but enter this year at 20-0. The two teams did not, however, meet during the regular season.
Allegany holds the No. 18 spot in the latest Division II poll, while Baltimore City is unranked. At the same time, the Panthers are the No. 1 seed in the JUCO tournament, while the Trojans are seeded third.
Frostburg State 78
Hilbert 37
FROSTBURG — Senior Brittany James scored her 1,000th career point and posted a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds as Frostburg State routed Hilbert in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference women’s basketball game during Senior Day Saturday at Bobcat Arena.
James hit five field goals and 8 of 10 free throws in leading all scorers and becoming the 15th Frostburg State player to reach 1,000 points. She scored her 1,000th with a free throw to open the second half, and also had seven steals and five assists.
Caryn Wright, another senior, also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats (17-7, 14-5). Lisa Byer added 14 points and seven rebounds. Mary Zinni had 13 points for Hilbert (0-25, 0-20).
Frostburg led 47-12 at halftime.
The Bobcats host D’Youville today at noon in its “Hoops for Haiti’’ event.
Baltimore City 60
Garrett 42
LARGO — Baltimore City built a big first-half lead and kept it the rest of the way in defeating Garrett in the Maryland JUCO Tournament semifinals Saturday at Prince George’s Community College.
Baltimore City, the top seed in the tournament, improved to 20-0 and will play third-seeded Allegany in today’s 3 p.m. championship game.
Tanira McClurkin scored 18 points to lead Baltimore City, which led 25-12 at halftime.
Tyeshia Briscoe had 12 points, Candace Phrance seven points and 11 rebounds, Raizel Benn 10 rebounds and Tashara Van Alstyne six points, five assists and five steals for fourth-seeded Garrett (9-8).
