Firebirds Let Non-Regional Game Slip Away, 81-74 vs. Glenville State

WASHINGTON, DC – Guard NyAsia Anderson set a school record for points in a game by a freshman with 31, and senior center Jaslynn Rollins had the most rebounds by a Firebird (20) since Lillian McGill in 2010, but the University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team let a non-regional game vs. Glenville State get away in the 4^th quarter, falling by a final score of 81-74 Monday night at UDC Sports Complex.

Anderson shot 13-of-20 from the field (2-of-5 from three-point range) and 3-of-6 at the foul line while grabbing eight rebounds, as she set a UDC freshman record and scored the most points by a Firebird since Iman Scott's 36 points in a triple-overtime win for UDC last year at Roberts Wesleyan on December 11^th, 2015.

Meanwhile, Rollins set career-highs with 20 total rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds, as she also pitched in six points and three assists offensively.

UDC guards Shantrel Oliver and Bianca White added 14 points apiece as well, with Oliver also handing out a team-high six assists.

Still, the Firebirds allowed 28 points off of their 19 turnovers, and they shot a paltry 48-percent (12-of-25) at the foul line in tonight's seven-point loss. Meanwhile, the Pioneers had six more assists (19-13) and four fewer turnovers (19-15), they shot 77-percent at the foul line (13-of-17), and they doubled-up UDC in bench points, 28-14.

Glenville State, which entered the game No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense at 97.7 points per-game, was well below its average tonight, but did put five scorers in double-figures, including a double-double by forward Courtney Davis (16 points, 14 rebounds).Tayana Stewart came off the bench to add 14 points and five rebounds as well.

The visiting Pioneers raced out to early leads of 5-0 and 10-6 before Anderson led the Firebirds on a 6-0 run with four of the six consecutive UDC points, including the run-capping layup to give the Firebirds their only lead of the night, 12-10, with 4:12 remaining in the 1^st quarter. UDC would go on to surrender the game's next eight points, but fight back to force the 2^nd tie of the game, 21-all, at the end of the 1^st quarter.

GSC opened the 2^nd quarter on a 9-3 spurt culminating in a Brittany Jackson (11 pts) three-pointer to put the Pioneers in front by six, 30-24. Once again UDC responded, as Anderson capped a 5-0 run with a three-pointer at the 5:08 mark, closing the gap to one, 30-29. The Firebirds would battle to keep within striking distance, trailing only by two, 42-40 at the halftime horn.

In the 3^rd quarter, UDC forced three separate ties at 42, 48 and 50, but never took a lead. The Firebirds were outscored 7-2 in the final three minutes of the period as they trailed 57-52 heading into the 4^th quarter.

Still only a four-point Firebird deficit early in the 4^th quarter, the Pioneers put the game out of reach with a 17-6 surge over a span of 4:41 to take the largest lead of the night by either team, 79-64.They would coast over the next four minutes to a seven-point margin of victory.

Next up, UDC returns to league play with a 5 p.m. game at home on Wednesday, December 7^th vs. Roberts Wesleyan College.