Blazing Second Quarter Brings Firebirds Back into Contention; UDC Falls to Bowie State 58-47

Bowie, MD- The University of the District of Columbia's women's basketball team fell to the undefeated Bowie State Bulldogs 58-47 on Wednesday evening at the A.C Jordan arena. Junior guard Maya Thomas led the Firebirds and all scorers with 17 points and also registered a team high seven rebounds. 

Thomas was 5-12 at the three-point line and 6-16 from the field. Senior reserve Tyra Coombs was also a key contributor to the Firebirds going 2-2 at the three-point line and 4-6 from the field. She finished with a season high 10 points and six rebounds

First quarter : The Firebirds had a very slow start with the Bulldogs taking them on a 12-0 run in the first few minutes. It wasn't until a foul called on Talanya Hutton at 4:48, sending Mia Boyd to the free throw line, that they were able to break their shooting drought. UDC's next and last points of the quarter came from Coombs who landed her first jumper from the three-point line  to bring the score to 17-5 going into the second quarter.

Second quarter : UDC fought their way back improving to a 57.1% shooting from the field while holding Bowie to only 16.7%. The first couple of minutes saw the Bulldogs pulling away but a lay-up made by Coombs at 7:54 sent the Firebirds on a 17-2 run which included three, three-pointers in the last 3:37 to bring the game to tie going into the half. 

Third quarter : Freshman guard Latavia Jackson made a lay-up to start the quarter with UDC having their first lead of the game. UDC would go back and forth with Bowie until Hutton sunk a three pointer to put Bowie in the lead. The Bulldogs managed to gain a six-point lead but the Firebirds fought their way back to a one point deficit after a jumper at the three point line by Thomas brought the score to 37-36 at the 2:38 mark. The last couple of minutes saw a series of missed shots on both ends, until a steal by Amel Duggins led to a made lay up in the last few seconds to give Bowie a three-point lead going into the last quarter.

Fourth Quarter : A made layup by Jackson brought the deficit back to a one-point game, with the Firebirds trailing 39-38. The Bulldogs managed to pull away going on a 19-9 run outrebound the Firebirds 9-4, four of which were second chance points. The game ended with Bowie on top 58-47 to keep the Bulldogs at a perfect 4-0 on the season. The Firebirds fell to 2-5 on the season.

Next up UDC will travel to N.Y. to face off against Nyack College on Saturday November 30^that 1:00pm.