UB Women End Season On A High Note With An 80-78 Win Over UDC

Bridgeport, Conn. – The University of Bridgeport women's basketball team finished their 2013-14 season with an upset victory over the regionally-ranked University of District of Columbia Firebirds, 80-78, in an East Coast Conference tilt on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Purple Knights finish the 2013-14 season with a 7-19 overall record and a 5-14 ECC mark. UDC slips to 19-7 overall and 15-5 in the ECC.  Saturday's win also snapped five-game losing streak for UB.

Bridgeport went into halftime leading 44-32, finishing the final 6:43 of the first half on a 13-6 run. In the second half UB led by as many as 14 points, but UDC would not go away. The Firebirds eventually tied the game up at 58-58 with 9:01 remaining, and then took their only lead of the second half at 66-65 with 6:48 to play on a pair of free throws from Denikka Brent. After that Bridgeport senior Aziza Patterson (Teaneck, N.J.) took control of the game. Patterson scored 10 of UB's final 14 points of the game over the last 5:45 of action. UB led 77-70 with 2:18 to play after two Patterson free throws, only to see that lead slip away again as UDC tied things up at 78-78 with 13.8 seconds to play. That set up UB's final possession as Patterson set up the play from the top of the key, and dumped the ball into the paint to Tiara Aziz (Jr., Easton, Pa.) who hit the would-be game winning shot with 3.0 seconds to go, as a desperation attempt by the Firebirds was not close to a basket.  

On Senior Day, Bridgeport received contributions from all three seniors on the roster, including Patterson's team-high 26 points, also adding four assists and five steals, Colleen Preusse (Danbury, Conn.) scored six points on two three-point field goals while Latasia Ward (Bronx, N.Y.) scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds, in their final games wearing a Purple Knight's jersey.

Aziz finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds, joining her in double figures was classmate Jenna Hoffman (Manchester Center, Vt.) who added 11 points off the Bridgeport bench, including three three-pointers. Freshman Evelyn Ovner (Vallentuna, Sweden) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and also scored eight points for the winners.

Telisha Turner scored a game high 27 points for UDC.