Nashville Standard

The Fisk University Lady Bulldog basketball team finished the semester just like they started with a victory; this time, it was a high scoring 90-86 road win over the Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers. Center Maya Buckhanon (SR/Talladega, AL) had a huge night, finishing with 45 points on 18 of 22 shooting and 19 rebounds. The 45 points is a modern day school record, overtaking Stevonna Scott's 42 points against Hiwassee College in 2013.

"I am not surprised by Maya because she can carry our team," said Fisk head coach Victoria Crawford. "Her strength and size pose an issue for our opponents. She is relentless in the weight room, and it showed tonight."

First Quarter 23-16 Fisk "Buckhanon Buckets"

Fisk finished the quarter shooting 56 percent from the field. Buckhanon set the tone early with two layups to give the Lady Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. IUS then went on an 11-2 run to take an 11-6 lead. A basket by A'Niya Young (SO/Nashville, TN) (12 rebounds) stopped the run and started a 5-0 spurt to tie the score at 11 on a three-point basket by Zipporah Davis (JR/Memphis, TN.) (13 points). With the score tied at 16, Fisk finished the quarter on a 7-0. Buckhanon finished the quarter with 16 points.

Second Quarter Fisk 49-38 "It's Raining Threes"

Fisk started the second quarter just like the first with two Buckhanon layups. The Lady Bulldog used a stingy defense that held IUS without a field goal for over four minutes to take the lead. Emmy Ralph's three-pointer broke the drought to cut the Fisk lead to 27-19. After another three-point basket made it 27-22, Davis hit a three of her own to extend the Fisk lead to 30-22. Davis' three with 5:38 left gave the Lady Bulldogs a 10-point lead.

Both teams swapped points to finish the quarter. Jesse Leatherwood's three again cut the lead to seven points, but Fisk's Mya Allen (SR/Kansas City, KS,) (12 points) made the lead 10 with 5:05 left in the quarter. Buckhanon closed the second quarter by scoring with two free throws.

Third Quarter Fisk 70-64 "IU Southeast Chips Away"

Layups by Allen and Buckhanon extended the Fisk lead to 53-48. IUS chipped then away at the lead. With the score 70-61 Fisk, with 1:31 left in the quarter, Ralph scored another three to cut the lead to 70-64. IUS had two more chances to cut into the lead, but the Fisk defense stood strong to sustain their lead.

Fourth Quarter 90-86 "Young Helps Fisk Hang on to Get the Victory"

IU Southeast's Bryanna Blackburn hit a three-pointer to start the final quarter to cut the lead to three at 70-67. Fisk then went on an 8-0 run culminated by two free throws by point guard Daigeona Guinn (SO/Jackson, MI) (12 points) to make the score 78-67 with 5:44 left in regulation. After a Young layup with 2:15 left made it 86-75, the Grenadiers then went on a run of their own, eventually tying the score at 86 on a Lauren Lambdin layup with 24 seconds left.  

Young then took over to seal the victory. IU Southeast employed a full-court press that the Lady Bulldogs broke, and Young scored on a layup to break the tie with 15 seconds to go. Young then grabbed a rebound after an IU Southeast miss. Davis was fouled and split her free throws. Lambdin's attempt to tie the game missed. Young was then fouled and split the free throws to seal the win.  Crawford praised Young for her determination.

"A'Niya was the X factor down the stretch. She was relentless on the boards. Her energy and effort were unmatched tonight. After they cut the lead to two, her presence got us over the hump."

Fisk finished the game shooting 55 percent from the field and outrebounded IU Southeast 48-31. They also held a 58-31 advantage on points in the paint.

Crawford added, "I believe we gave a good effort and took care of the ball tonight. At the half, we only had four turnovers. We were able to capitalize off more shot attempts at the basket."

Original source can be found here