Category: Carolina Christian

Centurions Hold Off Crusader Rally for NSAC Title

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Carolina Christian build an 12-point advantage over Christendom midway through the 4th quarter, then battled to hold off the Crusaders’ rally to claim the inaugural NSAC women’s basketball championship 70-67 on Sunday afternoon.

The Centurions frustrated Christendom’s offensive flow throughout the game with full-court pressure defense, scoring 24 points off 27 Crusader turnovers. Christendom clawed back to within 1, 68-67, on a Catherine Thomas jumper and subsequent free throw, with 46.8 seconds to play, but could get no closer. CCC’s Imari Hightower sank two free throws with 40.1 seconds left in regulation to stretch the lead back to 3. Two three-point attempts by the Crusaders in the final minute fell short to preserve the victory for the Centurions.

Hightower led all scorers with 33 points. Thomas led CC with 29 points and 23 boards, while Miranda Keller chalked 19 and 12, respectively.

Image courtesy Ike Washington/Apprentice Athletics

CCC Gets Top Seed for Inaugural NSAC Tournament

Carolina Christian College won the coin toss to break the tie for top seed in the upcoming New South Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament and gain the bye into the championship game.

CCC and Apprentice finished tied at .500 for the top spot and split their games during regular season, thus forcing the tiebreaker.

Apprentice will face Christendom on Saturday, February 25 in Newport News, Virginia in the semifinal matchup. The winner goes on to face the Centurions in Sunday’s final.

Builders Run Past CCC, Set Up Tie Breaker with Christendom

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After trading early baskets and the lead, Apprentice’s Nyla Jackson sank a 3-pointer midway through the first period and the Builders never trailed again in knocking off Carolina Christian 66-42 in New South action Wednesday night. The Apprentice win creates an interesting scenario to be played out next week.

Apprentice (7-6 overall, 1-1 NSAC) led 10-7 after one period of play, but used a 21-6 second stanza while holding CCC to 2-19 from the field to put away the Centurions and lead 31-13 at halftime.

Jada Bryant’s double-double led the Builders with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Amaya Ray and Kerrigan Small each added 10 points. Ashawnti Williams dominated the defensive paint, hauling in 14 defensive rebounds to go with 4 offensive boards and 9 points.

Carolina Christian (6-4, 1-1) was led by Imari Hightower’s 23 points.

The Apprentice win now sets up a tie-breaker game with Christendom next Tuesday, February 7 in Newport News. If the Crusaders win, they will be the outright regular-season champions and gain the bye into the tournament championship game on February 26. If the Builders win, they will be in a statistical tie for first place with Carolina Christian. According to league rules, that would be settled by a coin toss.

Houzer Garners POTW Honors

Carolina Christian College forward Moninque Houzer has been named NSAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her work last week against Warren Wilson College.

The junior racked up 18 points, collected 10 rebounds, and recorded 2 blocked shots in the Centurions’ 65-44 win.

Honorable mention: Shykiera Brown, CCC

Conference Opener Pits Centurions, Builders on Sunday

The first season of New South Athletic Conference women’s basketball officially tips off Sunday when Carolina Christian hosts Apprentice in Winston-Salem, NC.

The Centurions (2-1) are looking to bounce back from a tough road loss to Clinton while the Builders (1-1) are completing a back-to-back trek through North Carolina fresh off Saturday’s 83-37 win at Central Carolina.

Game time is set for 12:00 noon.

MACU Rolls, CCC Suffers First Loss

Mid-Atlantic Christian opened its season in impressive style by dominating Patrick Henry College 91-26 Tuesday night in the women’s basketball season opener for both teams.

But the outcome was not as satisfactory for Carolina Christian (2-1), which recorded its first loss at powerful Clinton College 88-53.

Apprentice will launch its campaign this Saturday on the road at Trinity Washington.

CCC Opens Basketball Season with Early Win

Basketball season started early for Carolina Christian College as the Centurions went on the road for a women’s basketball win over the Montreat College JV squad 62-49 on Saturday.

The Centurions (1-0) will again face the Cavaliers in Winston-Salem on Wednesday, October 26.

Hear more about this year’s Centurions team on “The New South Conference This Week” podcast, available Wednesday here.