It’s hard to imagine a better CIAA outcome for Johnson C. Smith University.

Playing in their own back yard before an enthusiastic crowd, the Golden Bulls on Saturday won the men’s and women’s championship games -- the first school to accomplish that feat in the same year since Norfolk State in 1996.

And if that weren't enough, earlier that evening, Tanoia Hill, Miss Johnson C. Smith University, was crowned Miss CIAA 2009, the third straight year a JCSU queen has won that title.

For women’s basketball head coach Vanessa Taylor, the 49-36 win over Bowie State must have been especially sweet. The Lady Golden Bulls had been denied the CIAA crown in three previous attempts, including last year when they lost in the championship game to Shaw University.

This time, they would not be denied. After getting off to a slow start -- they scored no points in the first six minutes -- the JCSU women shut down Bowie State in the second half.

Wendy Stywalt, who attended Vance High School and transferred to JCSU from UNC Charlotte, scored a game-high 30 points, including 17 of her team's final 19. She finished with 12 rebounds and was named the Food Lion Most Valuable Player for the second straight night.

In the men’s championship game, JCSU defeated Virginia Union 70-63 for the team’s second consecutive CIAA crown. Virginia Union had beaten the Golden Bulls twice during the regular season.

Junior guard Jerry Hollis, who played at Charlotte’s Victory Christian high school, scored 11 of his 19 points in the first half to earn tournament MVP honors.

All-CIAA senior guard Ryan Scott scored 13 points and senior guard Tavaris Little added 12. Freshman forward Michael Cooper rounded out the top scorers for JCSU with nine points.

The biggest basket of the game was delivered by Scott, son of former NBA star Dennis Scott. With the shot clock winding down and JCSU clinging to a 62-58 lead, Scott drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:22 remaining to give the Golden Bulls the space they needed.

On Virginia Union’s next two possessions, Hollis and Little blocked shots to seal JCSU’s win and keep the CIAA crown in the Qcity.

With Saturday’s victory, the men’s team earned a return ticket to the NCAA Division II tournament. The 64 teams will be announced Sunday, March 8.

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