CHARLOTTE, NC – The Shaw University Lady Bears shot nearly 50% from the floor on their way to a 62-56 victory over Chowan University tonight in first day play of the 2010 CIAA Tournament. The Hawks gave Shaw a run until the end but it was the Lady Bears who would come away with the victory tonight. Shaw advances to play #2 Bowie State University on Thursday morning at 8:00am.
The Hawks, who led the league in three point shooting percentage, struggled in the game from beyond the three point arch, hitting just 2-20 from three point land. “Chowan is a team that stretches you out around the perimeter. We knew we couldn't keep them from shooting those three point shots, but we wanted to challenge every shot they attempted,” stated Shaw Head Coach Jacques Curtis.
The Hawks opened the game with a 12-6 lead over the Lady Bears but Quaticqua Johnson brought her team back to 12-9 with a three ball at the 12:15 mark. Johnson's three pointer sparked a 7-0 run for the Shaw and at the 4:38 mark they had run their lead to 24-17. Back to back buckets by Najah Harris and Ransheda Jennings pulled Chowan within five points at 26-21. But Shaw's Saundra Proctor drained a three pointer and Tanisha McGaughey hit a layup all in the last minute to give the Lady Bears a 32-23 lead at the half.
The Lady Bears shooting helped them take that nine point lead into halftime, propelled in part by Niesha Searles' 14 first half points. Shaw shot 50% (13-26) from the floor and held the Hawks to 36% (10-28) in the first half.
The Lady Bears opened the second half much the same as they left the first and at the 15:00 mark took their first double-digit lead of the game at 38-29. A layup by Talaya Lynch and a foul shot pulled Chowan within seven points at 38-37 with just under 13:00 to play in the game. A layup by McGaughey converted a three point play after a Chowan foul to once again spread the lead to double-digits at 43-31 just two minutes later.
Chowan went on an 8-4 run highlighted by penetration layups by Lynch and Jennings to cut into the Shaw lead 47-39 with just under eight minutes to play in the game. The last two minutes of the game the Hawks knocked on the door, cutting the Lady Bear lead to three points on two different occasions but they couldn't quite close the gap.
“I am certainly proud of our second half efforts tonight,” said Chowan's Head Coach Patrick Mashuda. “We knew the type of players that Shaw has on their roster and tonight's game was going to be a challenge for us.”
Shaw's Tanisha McGaughey posted a game-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. Niesha Searles chipped in 14 points, all of which came in the first half and Quaticqua Johnson posted 12 points.
For Chowan, Najah Harris scored 14 points and dished out five assists while Talaya Lynch posted 11 points and five rebounds.
Chowan's season comes to an end tonight, wrapping up the 2009-10 season at 9-17 overall. Shaw improves to 16-11 on the year and will move on in the tournament to play #2 Bowie State University on Thursday at 8:00am.
