Firebirds Defeat Golden Rams for 14th Win of Season

WEST CHESTER, PA: FEBRUARY 7, 2007—The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds defeated the West Chester University Golden Rams, tonight, for their 14th win of the season and a 14-6  record. Ranked 8th in the NCAA East Region, the Firebirds are led overall by junior guard Charlie Smallwood (Palmer Park, MD), who is averaging 16.1 points per game.

Tonight, it was junior guard Antwon Hawkins’s (Mitchellville, MD) turn to set the pace for the Firebirds as he scored 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 3 assists to give UDC the win. Also scoring in double figures with 12 points each for the Firebirds were junior and team captain Frank Petersen (Silver Spring, MD), Smallwood, and sophomore guard Brian Adams (Washington, DC).

UDC took a quick, early lead ignited by a  Charlie Smallwood 3-pointer with an assist from Willie Shaw (junior forward-Alexandria, VA) and continued with a 7-0 run until West Chester scored at the 17:02 mark on a lay-up by Donnell Butler. Unfortunately, Shaw got into early foul trouble and played only 17 minutes.

UDC led throughout the first half on 54 percent (15-28) two-point field goal shooting, 29 percent (2-7) three - point shooting and 63 percent ( 5-8) free throw shooting , which gave them a 37-28 lead that they took into the break.

The Firebirds led the entire game, finishing with a 10 point lead, as West Chester was unable to get closer than 5 points in the second half.

UDC finished the game on 47 percent (22-47) two- point field goal shooting, 25 percent (2-7) three- point shooting, and hit 77 percent (24-31) from the free throw line.

Donnell Butler led the Golden Rams in scoring with 16 points, followed by Lenwood Greenwood with 14 points.

UDC will be in action again on Saturday, February 10, against the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. UPJ defeated the Firebirds by one point in their first meeting on January 20, in Washington.