ECU Defeats Huskies

Shirolacille Holloway scores career-high 14 points

Shirolacille Holloway (Photo by Anthony Vasser)

TAMPA, Fla. – The Husky women’s basketball team opened the USF Shootout with a 103-59 loss against East Carolina University Saturday afternoon at the Sun Dome.

The Lady Pirates started strong, hitting a three and opening the game on a 7-0 run. A Raquel Jones three-pointer cut the deficit to 18-11 entering the first media timeout of the opening half. HBU was outscored 8-2 entering the midway point of the half. It seemed the remainder of the half, anytime the Huskies got a basket, ECU matched it or did one better, as the teams headed to the locker rooms at the half with ECU leading HBU, 57-34.

HBU was led in scoring by both Shiralacille Holloway and Raquel Jones with six points apiece. Jones was 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Holloway was also the top rebounder, grabbing five boards, three offensive, while Taniqua Hollis was tops with two steals. ECU was led in scoring by Kelly Smith with 10 points, as she was 3-of-4 from three-point land. Smith was also tops on the team with four rebounds, while both Allison Spivey and Smith had three assists apiece.

The Huskies hustled and made big plays to start the game, outscoring the Lady Pirates 8-4 in the first three minutes, before the Lady Pirates went on a 5-0 run of their own. Ernesta Griciunaite made a shot in the paint and made the ensuing free throw following the first media timeout of the second half. The Huskies could not stop Smith, who has 15 points and is 4-of-6 beyond the arc at the midway point of the second half. The Huskies found themselves down 75-49 at that point. The Huskies then hit a cold stretch, as an Griciunaite free throw with six minutes left was the first point for HBU in about seven minutes, as the Huskies were down 91-53.

HBU was led in scoring by Holloway, who set a career-high with 14 points and was one rebound shy of the team lead, which went to Griciunaite, who grabbed seven. Princess Jeanmard, Jones, Hollis and Holloway each grabbed a team-high two steals. The Lady Pirates were led in scoring by Smith, who scored 17 points. Ashley Clarke (12) and Crystal Wilson (10) were the other players in double-digits. Ariana Jackson led ECU with five rebounds, while Spivey had a game-high six assists.

ECU, who is now 9-1, received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Top-25 Poll.

HBU (2-10) will conclude the Shootout against either the host Bulls or North Carolina Central at 12 pm EST.