NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Sophomore Tamara Davis scored a game-high 21 points and earned MVP honors as The Apprentice School defeated Briarcliffe College 69-48 in the final day of the Great Ships Classic.
In the first game, Kezia Ford scored 20 points leading three in double figures for Southern Virginia University as they defeated Penn State Fayette 76-55. The Knights held Penn State Fayette to 25% shooting in the second half (7-of-28) to outscore them 46-28.
Apprentice School (3-1) opened the game scoring seven straight points in the first 98 seconds as a Davis 3-pointer put them up 7-0. The Seahawks hit consecutive three-pointers by Danielle Eagan and Tiffany Montague to cut the deficit to 9-6 with 13:34 left. The Lady Builders answered scored the next eight points over a nearly two minute span to hold a 17-6 lead on a Shameka Warren jumper with 10:45 left.
In the second half, Briarcliffe scored the first six points as a Tamika Pearson jumper cut the deficit to 34-29 with 17:16 left. From there the hosts went on a 12-1 run over nearly a five minute span to take a 46-30 lead in a Jasmine Gerald free throw with 12:20 remaining. A 10-2 Lady Builder run later in the half gave them their largest lead at 67-42 on an Ashley Bourguet jumper with 2:47 left.
Joining Davis on the All-Tournament team was Tyisha Battle who had nine points and five rebounds on Saturday. Freshman Valerie Creecy added none points and seven rebounds as the Lady Builders hit 24-of-55 from the floor (43.6%) and 5-of-11 from 3-point range (45.5%).
Eagan was the leading scorer for Briarcliffe (3-2) with 18 points, while Nina Creese added 11 and nine rebounds and Pearson scored 10 with seven rebounds. Creese was Briarcliffe's representative on the All-Tournament team.
Joining them from the first game was Ford from Southern Virginia University and Kasey Ruble from Penn State Fayette.
The Lady Builders now travel to Fayetteville, NC to face Methodist University in the first round of the Turkey Shootout on Friday night at 7 pm.
APPRENTICE SCHOOL 69, BRIARCLIFFE 48
BRIARCLIFFE (3-2): Danielle Eagan 5-18 5-8 18; Nina Creese 3-12 3-7 11; Tamika Pearson 4-12 1-2 10; Tiffany Montague 2-6 1-2 7; Feniere James 1-6 0-2 2; Analiz Fernandez 0-0 0-0 0; Kia Barnes 0-1 0-0 0; Angie Bayona 0-0 0-0 0; Dominque Dawson 0-0 0-2 0; Jasmin Castro-Lopez 0-5 0-0 0; Shanayvia Barrett 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 15-62 10-23 48.
APPRENTICE SCHOOL (3-1): Tamara Davis 8-14 1-3 21; Tyisha Battle 3-8 3-6 9; Valerie Creecy 3-4 3-6 9; Shameka Warren 3-6 2-4 8; Ashley Bourguet 3-4 0-0 6; Jonea Cruz 2-5 2-2 6; Jasmine Pringle 1-3 1-2 4; LaTorya Grimes 1-1 0-0 2; Candice Kelley 0-3 2-2 2; Jasmine Gerald 0-4 1-2 1; Ginger Corprew 0-1 1-2 1; Ashley Johnson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-55 16-29 69.
Halftime-Apprentice 34-23. 3-point goals--Briarcliffe 8-26 (Danielle Eagan 3-10; Tiffany Montague 2-5; Nina Creese 2-5; Tamika Pearson 1-5; Jasmin Castro-Lopez 0-1), Apprentice School 5-11 (Tamara Davis 4-7; Jasmine Pringle 1-1; Candice Kelley 0-1; Jasmine Gerald 0-2). Fouled out--Briarcliffe-None, Apprentice School-None. Rebounds--Briarcliffe 42 (Nina Creese 9), Apprentice School 45 (Valerie Creecy 7). Assists--Briarcliffe 7 (Nina Creese 3), Apprentice School 18 (Candice Kelley 6). Total fouls--Briarcliffe 22, Apprentice School 20. Technical fouls--Briarcliffe-None, Apprentice School-None. A-317
2009 Great Ships Classic All-Tournament Team: Kasey Ruble (PSF), Kezia Ford (SVU), Nina Creese (Briarcliffe); Tyisha Battle (App), Tamara Davis (Apprentice - MVP)