UDC LADY FIREBIRDS LOSE IN OVERTIME TO COLUMBIA UNION LADY PIONEERS

Washington, DC: An early lead at the start of the game would not be enough as the University of the District of Columbia Lady Firebirds could not hold on and eventually lost to the Columbia Union College Lady Pioneers 78-82, in overtime, this afternoon at home. UDC jumped to an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game and maintained the lead until Columbia Union tied it 32-32 with 2:20 remaining in the first half.

UDC broke the tie on a three pointer by Jaime Brown at the 2 minute mark, but Columbia Union’s Lisa Brewer tied it again 35-35 with 34 seconds left in the half. Brewer then hit a two pointer and broke the tie with 33 seconds on the clock, but Sylvia Kemp hit jumper for the Lady Firebirds to give them the lead again 37-36 with 23 seconds remaining. UDC’s Tyane Washington fouled Union’s Jada Richardson with 7 seconds left, who hit one of two free throws to send the teams into half time tied 37-37.

The second half was a closely played as the two teams tied the score eight times, going into overtime tied 72-72 on a lay-up by Jada Richardson to end the regulation time. Richardson took charge in overtime to score six of Unions overtime points for the win. Union’s bench helped make the difference for them, outscoring the UDC bench 21-15. The lead changed 13 times during the game

Richardson led the Pioneers in the win, scoring 26 points, hitting 5-8 three pointers, followed by Bethany Sloat with 23, and Cherisse Buddy with 10 points.

Deidra Bumbrey led UDC in scoring with 19 points, while Jennifer Jones followed with 16, Jaime Brown with 15, and Sylvia Kemp with 11 points. The Lady Firebirds fell to 6-13 for the season, while Columbia Union won just their second game of the year.

UDC’s next game will be January 18, against East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.