CLINCHED! Williams Clutch Three-Point Dagger Propels Firebirds to Win Over Queens and into the ECC Play-Offs

Washington, D.C. – The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team secured their spot in the ECC playoffs with a thrilling 57-54 victory over Queens College on Wednesday night. The Firebirds held off a late rally by the Knights, after Tori Williams buried a last second dagger from behind the arc, to claim their eighth conference win of the season and solidify their fourth consecutive postseason berth.

UDC set the tone early with aggressive defense and efficient scoring, jumping out to a 16-10 lead after the opening period. The Firebirds forced seven Queens turnovers in the quarter, leading to key transition points. The Firebirds extended their lead to 29-19 at halftime, thanks to a balanced offensive attack led by Nia Ford and Laci Johnson. Queens struggled to generate offense from the perimeter, failing to convert a single three-pointer in the first half.

Queens came out firing after halftime, outscoring UDC 18-11 in the period to cut the deficit to three points. The Knights took advantage of second-chance opportunities, grabbing key offensive rebounds to stay in the game. In a tense final frame, both teams traded baskets, but clutch defensive play and UDC's ability to control the boards proved decisive. With the score tied at 54 with 50 seconds to go, Johnson found Williams with less than four seconds to go in the corner. Williams was able to hit the buzzer beater to secure the victory. 

Key performances

• Laci Johnson: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
• Nia Ford: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals
• Tori Williams: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Jada Bouknight: 4 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
• Kensley Benjamin: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

Team Statistics

• Field Goal Percentage: UDC 31.8% (21-66) | Queens 39.6% (19-48)
• Three-Point Shooting: UDC 26.1% (6-23) | Queens 0% (0-4)
• Free Throw Percentage: UDC 64.3% (9-14) | Queens 76.2% (16-21)
• Rebounds: UDC 42 | Queens 36
• Offensive Rebounds: UDC 15 | Queens 10
• Assists: UDC 15 | Queens 15
• Turnovers: UDC 17 | Queens 23

UDC (10-15, 8-7 ECC) will head to Molloy University on Saturday to close out the regular season. The game is slated to begin at noon.