Local residents spotted at CIAA Basketball Tournament
Published 10:44 am Wednesday, March 1, 2017
- Spotted after watching the Virginia State University Lady Trojans defeat the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University in an overtime semi-final game are left to right: Sitrina Bynum (Livingstone College) and Diane Giles (Alcorn State); back, Daphne Miller (St. Augustine’s University) and Patricia Sowell (Virginia State University). -- Frank A. Davis | Tidewater News
by Almeta Davis
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
The 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball Tournament was held Feb. 21-25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Feb. 21 and 22, the games were held at the newly renovated Bojangles Coliseum, and from Feb. 23 through the final games on Saturday, Feb. 25, they were held in Uptown Charlotte at the Spectrum Center, formerly known as the Time-Warner Cable Arena. The Spectrum Center is also the home court of the NBA Charlotte Hornets.
Two local competitors were spotted winning the McDonald’s Big Puzzle Challenge. They were, third and fourth from left, Lisa Sawyer (Winston-Salem State University) and Patrice Jones (Virginia Union University).
The CIAA consist of 12-member institutions that are located in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Its alumni and fans come by the thousands to attend this annual tournament, which is ranked among the highest in attendance for Division ll conferences. That attendance is also high for local fans from the Franklin/Southampton area.
Spotted after watching the Virginia State University Lady Trojans defeat the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University in an over-time semi-final game were Sitrina Bynum (Livingstone College) and Diane Giles (Alcorn State), Daphne Miller (St. Augustine’s University) and Patricia Sowell (Virginia State University).
One of the things attendees love during the tournament is competing in the fan experience games that are held during TV timeouts. Two local competitors were spotted winning the McDonald’s Big Puzzle Challenge. They were Patrice Jones (Virginia Union University) and Lisa Sawyer (Winston Salem State University). They each won prizes in the form of gift cards and McDonald’s HBCU and CIAA apparel.
They received their prizes at center court.
