MURFREESBORO - The Chowan University women's basketball team dropped a tough 57-54 decision to Johnson C. Smith University in CIAA cross over action this evening. The Hawks (3-6, 0-1) led for most of the game but the Lady Golden Bulls played the Hawks tight over the final four minutes of play to pull away with the narrow three point victory. The Lady Golden Bulls remain undefeated on the year at 8-0 after tonight's game.

Chowan led the entire first half of play but a late first half bucket by the Lady Golden Bulls knotted the game at 25-25 at the halftime break. JCSU took their first lead of the game at 27-25 at the 18:38 mark when LaQwesha Gamble drove the lane for a lay up. After a back and forth game, Danielle Coleman hit a floater in the paint to tie the game at 44 with just over 4:00 to play in the game. But JCSU scored on their next three possessions to take a 52-44 lead. Brittany Nicholson scored two straight buckets for the Hawks to cut the Lady Golden Bull lead to 52-48 with 1:38 play.  Talaya Lynch drained a three pointer with :23 to play to cut the JCSU lead to 54-51 and Ransheda Jennings completed a three point play with :08 ticks on the clock to pull the Hawks within a point of the Lady Golden Bulls. The Hawks were forced to foul over the final seconds of the game, sending Gamble to the line. Gamble converted two free throws  to give her team a 57-54 lead and eventual win.

Nicholson led all scorers with 13 points while Jennings posted 11 points to go with eight assists and three steals. Kiara Turner came off the bench to get 10 points and five rebounds and Lynch hauled in a game-high 12 boards.

For JCSU, Brittane Neely had eight points and 10 boards while Gamble and Shontanette Shaw each posted 10 points.

The Hawks (3-6, 0-1) will host Fayetteville State University in a 2:00pm tip off on Saturday in their next outing. The Lady Golden Bulls (8-0, 2-0) will travel over to Elizabeth City State University on Saturday in their next game.