FAYETTEVILLE, NC - An 11-0 run over a 2:13 span late in the first half gave the Apprentice School Lady Builders a lead they would never relinquish as they defeated the College of Notre Dame (Md.) 60-50 in the first round of the Turkey Shootout at Methodist University's Riddle Center.
The win for the Lady Builders (3-1) advances them to a 4 pm championship game on Sunday against the winner of the second game between the host Monarchs and Salem College.
The Gators scored seven of the first nine points in the game and held a 16-13 lead at the 4:11 mark of the first half on a Kierra Scott 3-pointer. From there, the Lady Builders started on their 11-0 run behind Tamara Davis who scored seven of her season-high 26 points in that spurt. Junior LaTorie Ford started the run with a jumper and closed it with a layup with 1:58 left to put Apprentice School up 24-16.
In the second half the Gators cut the lead to two points on four occasions, the last of which being with 13:11 left on a Ronda Shelly layup for a 40-38 deficit. The Apprentice School put the game away on a 13-2 run to hold a 53-40 advantage with five minutes left on a Valleri West layup.
Apprentice School held a commanding 65-45 advantage on the boards, with four Lady Builders hauling in over 10 rebounds each. Freshman LaTorya Grimes topped that pack with a season-high 17, while Davis also added a season-best 14.
Shelly was the leading scorer for College of Notre Dame (3-1) with 12 as the Gators didn't attempt a free throw in the contest.
APPRENTICE SCHOOL 60, NOTRE DAME (MD) 50
NOTRE DAME (MD) (3-1): Ronda Shelly 6-19 0-0 12; Khadija Mitchell 4-14 0-0 9; Kendra Baldwin 3-21 0-0 7; India Scott 3-4 0-0 6; Kiara Young 2-10 0-0 5; Angela Turner 2-3 0-0 4; Gloria Broady 2-7 0-0 4; Kierra Scott 1-4 0-0 3; Heather Krolicki 0-0 0-0 0; Ebony Rivers 0-0 0-0 0; Briana Grap 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-84 0-0 50.
APPRENTICE SCHOOL (3-1): Tamara Davis 11-20 1-5 26; Rahshann Lewter 4-13 1-6 9; LaTorie Ford 2-5 4-6 8; Shameka Warren 3-8 0-0 6; Valleri West 2-5 0-0 4; Upenda Morton 1-4 2-2 4; LaTorya Grimes 0-5 2-2 2; Jessica Henderson 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 23-63 11-23 60.
Halftime: Apprentice 26-22. 3-point goals--Notre Dame (MD) 4-29 (Kendra Baldwin 1-3; Kiara Young 1-5; Kierra Scott 1-3; Khadija Mitchell 1-8; Briana Grap 0-1; Gloria Broady 0-4; Ronda Shelly 0-5), Apprentice School 3-7 (Tamara Davis 3-5; Upenda Morton 0-1; Jessica Henderson 0-1). Fouled out--Notre Dame (MD)-Ronda Shelly, Apprentice School-None. Rebounds--Notre Dame (MD) 45 (Ronda Shelly 9; India Scott 9), Apprentice School 65 (LaTorya Grimes 17). Assists--Notre Dame (MD) 11 (Khadija Mitchell 5), Apprentice School 13 (Rahshann Lewter 6). Total fouls--Notre Dame (MD) 22, Apprentice School 7. Technical fouls--Notre Dame (MD)-None, Apprentice School-None. A-72