Owens women earn share of league title
Gill breaks men’s team block record
2/23/2014The Owens Community College women's basketball team earned at least a share of the league crown Saturday night.
The Express completed a season sweep of Columbus State Community College with a 75-62 win. The victory ensured Owens a share of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference championship.
Owens (23-2, 9-1) recovered after a shaky start to the contest. Columbus State raced out to an early 16-3 advantage after a jumper by Hannah Frey more than eight minutes into the game.
But rather than panic, the Express mounted a rally. Owens outscored Columbus State (17-6, 4-5) 14-1 over the next five minutes to tie the game at 17 on Zhana Randolph’s jump shot with 6:58 left in the first half.
The Express began pulling away after that and took a 34-27 lead into halftime.
Owens gradually extended its lead as the second half got underway and led by at least seven the entire second half.
Kamilah Carter led Owens with 19 points. She chipped in five rebounds and six assists. Ashley Tunstall had 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench while Eboni Adams had 14 points and Randolph scored 13.
The Express can win the OCCAC title outright with a victory in either of their next two road games.
Men
Owens 94, Columbus State 83
Bikramjit Gill saw his double-double streak end, but the sophomore picked up the single season blocks record as the No. 11 Owens Community College men’s basketball team defeated Columbus State Community College.
Gill totaled 21 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks. He now has 59 blocks this year and eclipsed the previous record of 58 held by James Kelly.
The Express jumped out to a 12-4 lead following a 3-pointer from John Murry in the game's first 4:19.
The Cougars (8-13, 1-8) started chipping away, however, and took an 18-17 lead with 9:55 left in the half. They went up 20-17 before Edmond Early, Jr., drained a 3-pointer to tie it up with 9:04 left.
Shaakir Lindsey put the Express (22-5, 9-1) up 44-42 heading into the half with a layup in the final minute.
Columbus State’s Christopher Cook opened the second half up with a jumper to tie it at 44-all before the Express went on a 6-0 run, capped by a layup from Murry to take a 50-44 lead with 16:30 left.
With their win, the Express remain tied for first place in OCCAC play. Should they win their final two road games, they would clinch at least a share of the OCCAC championship for the first time since the 2001-02 season.