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WBB: Shaw Knocks Off Johnson C. Smith 61-50

By Bonitta Best

Mar 2, 2008

Charlotte, N.C. — Shaw coach Jacques Curtis won't be eating any crow for the next 11 months.

After last year's CIAA Tournament semifinal loss to Elizabeth City State – ending a four-year title run, Curtis "guaranteed" a return to the throne in 2008. It wasn't easy, but the Lady Bears kept the egg off their coach's face with a hard-fought 61-50 win over Johnson C. Smith on March 1 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

The win was Shaw's fifth in six years.

But this one may be the most special for Curtis.

"This is the better of the five, because we didn't win it last year," Curtis said. "Plus, we didn't want any class to leave here without at least one championship so the pressure was on."

Offensively, the Lady Bears struggled mightily, shooting just under 40 percent for the game, but defensively, Shaw had perhaps its best tournament performance. The Lady Bears caused 24 Smith turnovers and held the Lady Golden Bulls scoreless for 11 minutes in the second half.

Smith coach Vanessa Taylor has been to the final three times and lost them all to Shaw.

"We never got into a rhythm," said Taylor, who split with Shaw during the regular season. "We struggled offensively and couldn't create second and third opportunities."

While Smith suffered from early-game jitters, the Lady Bears quickly built a 20-9 lead with 10:37 left in the first half. But the Lady Golden Bulls settled down and went on a 9-0 run to close to within two. The teams played even ball for the remainder of the half, and Shaw led 32-29 at halftime.

But in the second, the Lady Bears turned up their half-court defense and frustrated Smith into erratic shots and numerous turnovers.

"They put a lot of pressure on us, and it was hard to see what was going on," Smith senior guard Shemika Jones said. "It was just constant pressure."

Last December, Shaw looked like a shell of its current self after seven straight losses. Then Curtis added junior guard Shana Andrus and senior center Tavia Clemendor in the second half of the season, while junior guard Celanese Bozeman came off the injury list. The result: the old Shaw Bears.

"We were evolving as a teamm and we had a lot of injuries," Curtis said. "Once January rolled around and I had a full complement of players, I felt we could make a run."

Curtis said he motivated his team by making them carry a copy of last year's Charlotte Observer, which had a picture of N.C. Central celebrating its CIAA title.

"I wanted them to remember that feeling of losing," Curtis said.

When asked to make another prediction for next year, Curtis declined, except to hint that he may retire from coaching and move into an administrative position at Shaw.

"I can't say what will happen next year," he said. "I'm considering a job outside of coaching. It's better to go out on top."