Petersburg, VA - In a rematch of the 2023 USCAA Division II National Championship game, Johnson & Wales Charlotte defeated Cincinnati-Clermont 76-57 in the semi-final round of the 2024 version of the event.

The 4th seeded Cougars jumped out to a ten point lead, 14-4 over the game's first five minutes as each of the five Clermont starters scored. JWU spent the rest of the period crawling back into the game, cutting the Clermont lead to as few as two, and ultimately trailed by five after ten minutes. 

A Jamyah Blakeney three pointer a minute into the second quarter gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 23-22, as the two teams would jockey back and forth from there for the remainder of the half. An Aimee Evans jumper beat the halftime buzzer and left the game tied at 34.

As was the case on Monday, the third quarter proved pivotal. JWU shot 55% from the field and forced 8 Cougar turnovers in the stanza in building a six point lead. The Wildcats ultimately forced 30 turnovers for the game, and converted those into 31 points. Jayla Lovett scored 10 of her 22 points on the evening in the period to help spark the Wildcats. The JWU defense finished the job in the fourth quarter, holding Clermont to just four points on 2 of 19 shooting. On the offensive end, the Wildcats converted 9 of 12 free throws to pull away at the finish.

Blakeney posted a career-high 29 points, including 3 of 6 three point shooting and 8 of 10 free throws. She added 9 rebounds to her effort. Lovett had 6 steals to go along with her 22 points. Aimee Evans had 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Durant grabbed 9 boards and handed out 6 assists.

The Wildcats advance to tonight national final against #7 Christendom at 8:15pm.