RICHMOND, Va. -- After a half of yesterday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's semifinal, Morgan State had to consider itself fortunate -- fortunate to be trailing by just a single point against top-seeded Hampton.
But Morgan's downfall would be its lack of success against the league's best defensive team in yesterday's 67-52 loss that ended the Bears' season.
For long stretches, Morgan (12-16) was unable to even get the ball past half-court, committing 29 turnovers against a team that entered the tournament forcing more than 25 per game.
"We did not handle their pressure well," said Morgan coach Darcel Estep. "Hampton, a lot of their offense comes off their defense. We did not do a good job of recognizing what was going on."
The Bears did not do a good job of shooting either, with their 28.6 percent just slightly higher than their season-low of 26.3 against Towson. That percentage was not totally related to the defense of Hampton as Morgan -- the times it was able to get into its half-court offense -- missed many layups and open jumpers.
"We missed a lot of easy shots. Why? I don't know," said Morgan forward Monique Liddell, who hit six of her 10 shots to finish with 15 points and 10 rebounds. "They just weren't falling. Had we made the easy ones, it would have been a lot closer."
Morgan's defense did a good job in the first half, forcing 20 turnovers. And the Bears had their biggest lead, 18-14, after a Gabriella Beckles' layup with 6: 19 left.
That was about the time Hampton (18-9) intensified its defensive pressure, forcing 12 Morgan turnovers over the final 5: 15 of the half, including eight over the final nine possessions. The Bears trailed just 25-24 at the half.
Morgan tied the game at 27 after a three-pointer by Shakira Smith less than a minute into the second half. But Hampton took control by scoring the next 13 points, taking a 40-27 lead after two free throws by Felicia Bryant (15 points, 10 rebounds, nine steals) with 14: 57 left.
"I could sense the frustration with their point guards because they were arguing," said Hampton's Lineni Noa. "We just took advantage of that and played harder."
And that ended the Bears' season. While disappointed with the way his team lost yesterday, Estep is happy with the progress of a program that three years ago had finished its third straight season with five or less wins.
"What our team put together over the second half of the season is tremendous," Estep said. "This is a program that's on the rebound. And we're going in the right direction."
Hampton will play Florida A&M;, a 53-40 winner over Howard, for the championship today.
MORGAN STATE -- Mickens 2-9 1-2 6, Beckles 3-8 4-6 11, Smith 2-10 1-2 6, Meekins 0-2 0-0 0, Liddell 6-10 3-3 15, Elam 2-3 0-0 4, Cornish 2-9 0-0 5, Crowder 1-6 0-0 2, Harris 0-4 0-0 0, Scott 0-2 3-4 3, Parham 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-63 12-17 52.
HAMPTON -- Jones 0-6 2-2 2, Bryant 6-11 4-6 16, Poteat 3-7 2-3 8, Noa 3-8 4-9 10, Phillips 3-9 8-8 17, Murray 0-1 0-0 0, Roberson 1-5 1-2 3, Braxton 0-0 0-0 0, Dawson 3-6 1-2 7, Cleveland 2-2 0-1 4, Newman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-56 22-33 67.
Halftime--Hampton, 25-24. Three-point goals--MS 4-12 (Mickens 1-2, Smith 1-2, Beckles 1-3, Cornish 1-4, Elam 0-1); H 3-7 (Phillips 3-7). Rebounds--MS 40 (Liddell 10); H 48 (Bryant 10). Assists--MS 9 (Meekins, Mickens 2); H 5 (Bryant 3). Total fouls--MS 24, H 17. A--n/a.
Pub Date: 3/06/99