Virginia Union University's AnnMarie Gilbert became only the second women's basketball coach in school history to win 100 games as coach of the Lady Panthers as VUU defeated Bowie State University 52-51 on Wednesday, January 23, in Bowie, Md.
Gilbert joined Moses Golatt, who won 223 games in 15 seasons as head women's basketball coach at Virginia Union, as the only two coaches to reach the 100-win plateau.
Gilbert is the quickest VUU coach to reach the 100-win pinnacle, having achieved the feat in only 112 games as VUU head coach. She holds a winning percentage of .893.
VUU's Shareka McNeill scored the winning basket with a short jumper with seven seconds left in the game.
"That last play reminded me of when we were in the Elite Eight during my first year, when we lost to Bentley by one point," said Gilbert. "Well, the tables were turned tonight. The ball was in the hands of Shareka McNeill, who I think is one of the best players, if not the best player, in the CIAA. We called a timeout, and our goal was to get the ball to her on a play where she usually a three-pointer. She rolled to the basket, got a mid-range pull-up, and she knocked it down."
VUU was led in the scoring by senior Rejoice Spivey, who scored 16 points in the win, including going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
"Those contributions were big," said Gilbert. "Rejoice jammed her finger going into the game, and had her fingers taped up, so we were nervous. We didn't know what we were going to get. But she acted like a senior tonight. She showed up and showed out."
VUU was led in rebounding by Nicole Floyd who grabbed seven boards. Floyd also scored 10 points.
The win raised VUU's record to 16-1 overall and 8-1 in the CIAA. Bowie State fell to 15-3 overall and 7-2 in the CIAA.
Virginia Union now returns home to face Lincoln (Pa.) University at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, in Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.