Firebirds stay unbeaten at home with 67-48 win over New Haven

Washington, DC: December 18, 2010 – Junior guard Jamilia Bonner (Accounting – Mobile, AL) led the Firebirds in scoring for the third game in a row, with 18 points on 50% shooting from the field, as UDC’s women’s basketball team (7-3) defeated the University of New Haven Chargers (2-6), 67-48, in front of 170 fans at the UDC sports complex.

The game was part of the UDC Holliday Classic, and the win was the third in a row for the Firebirds, which matches their longest winning-streak this season. Joining Bonner in scoring double figures for UDC were freshman forward Dohnay Banice (Business Administration – Wilmington, DE), who had a season-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, senior forward Lillian McGill (Admin. Of Justice – Sumter, SC), who had 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, and junior guard Kendra Johnson (Mass Media – Mt. Laurel, NJ), who had 10 points.

Despite the final score the game was very competitive until the final five minutes, when the Firebirds eventually pulled away. In total there were 8 lead changes and the score was tied 7 times, including at the half. In the first half New Haven out-shot UDC from the field 40.0% to 32.4%, and from beyond the arc 40.0% to 30.0%. However, UDC out-rebound New Haven in the first half 25-20.

The Firebirds began to pull away in the second half when McGill made a lay-up with 6:10 remaining in the game to put UDC ahead by five. Then McGill forced a turnover, which started a fast-break that led to a lay-up by Johnson. Another lay-up and free-throw by Banice less than a minute later put the Firebirds ahead by 10, and they would go on to outscore the Chargers 15-6 the rest of the way.

For the game UDC outscored New Haven 34-20 in the paint and 28-14 off turnovers. UDC shot 71.4% from the free-throw line, including making 14 of 16 free-throws in the second half. New Haven was just 1 of 4 from the free-throw line for the game.

Freshman guard Audrey Cunningham from Germantown, MD (Seneca Valley) was the only Charger to score in double figures. She had 10 points and shot 40% from the field. Senior guard Nicole Pollard added 9 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Next up for UDC is a match-up with the #2 team in the country, Lander University, Sunday at 3:00pm in the finale of the UDC Holliday Classic. The game can be heard live by clicking on the “audio” link at www.udcfirebirds.com.