Sisters Sherika and Shekiya Tarpkins combined to score 40 points to lead Fort Valley State (3-1) to a 92-73 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the opening round of the 2004 Sodexho Thanksgiving Tournament Friday afternoon at the Clemente Center.
Senior Sherika scored a game-high 24 points, while freshman Shekiya added 16 for the Wildcats.
After falling behind 7-4 three minutes into the game, Fort Valley dominated the remainder of the first half. The Wildcats went on a 23-7 run over a 12-minute span, taking a 30-15 lead with just under three minutes to play in the period. During that run, Fort Valley reeled off 16 consecutive points over a stretch that lasted almost eight minutes.
An 11-7 Gulf Coast run over the final 2-1/2 minutes of the half, including three three-point field goals by
Candy Myers (New Bavaria, OH), trimmed the Wildcats'™ lead to 37-26 at the break.
Fort Valley limited Florida Gulf Coast to just 25.0% (8-of-32) shooting during the first period, while converting 47.1% (16-of-34) of their own field goal attempts.
In the second half, the Fort Valley lead would expand to as many as 19 points, but Florida Gulf Coast could not pull any closer than nine.
Sherika Tarpkins added seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals, while Shekiya Tarpkins grabbed six rebounds.
Shanika Carter added 11 points for victorious Fort Valley. Amanda Ray registered a game-high 10 rebounds, to go with six points, while Kristina Green added eight points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.
FGCU was led by Myers, who scored 20 points, including six three pointers.
Andrea Clarke (Guelph, Ontario) and
Jennifer Santana (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the Eagles. Santana gathered a team-high eight rebounds for the Eagles, while
Megan Jones (Indianapolis, Ind.) dished out a game-high nine assists.
For the game, Fort Valley shot a blistering 55.9% (38-of-68) from the field, including 64.7% (22-of-34) in the second half. Florida Gulf Coast was limited to just 32.9% (23-of-70) from the floor in the contest. Fort Valley also claimed a 45-35 edge in rebounds.
With the victory, the Wildcats advanced to the championship game, where they will face Florida Tech Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast (2-2) will meet PR-Rio Piedras in the consolation game at 2:00 p.m.
