NORFOLK, VA- BOX SCORE The Chowan University women's basketball team took a 60-56 loss against the Norfolk State University Spartans on Wednesday evening.  Three players from both the Hawks and the Spartans' squad had double digit points, but it was Norfolk State that pulled away with the win.  Turnovers proved to be costly for Chowan as the Hawks allowed 22 points off of turnovers.
 
Talaya Lynch paced the Hawks with 19 points, and came just one rebound shy of the double-double, hauling in two offensive and seven defensive rebounds.  Janelle Murphy pulled in 14 points, followed by Summer Curtis with 11 points. 
 
For Norfolk State, Aivah Leonard led the way with 17 points, followed by Kashay Barnes and Ebony Brown with 11 points apiece.  Rachel Gordon had 10 rebounds on Wednesday evening. 
 
Janelle Murphy scored first for Chowan, draining a three-pointer three minutes into the game.  Both teams traded baskets until the 12:49 mark.  With the Hawks leading 9-8 after a lay-up from Curtis, the Spartans went on a 15-4 run to take a 23-13 lead with 5:37 left in the half.  The 10 point lead by Norfolk State was the largest of the half and of the game for the Spartans. 
 
Lynch swung the momentum back towards the Hawks with a three-pointer to make the score 23-16 with 4:31 remaining in the half.  Danielle Witherspoon followed up with a jumper to give the Hawks an additional two points. 
 
Chowan headed into the locker room at half time trailing 29-23. 
 
The Hawks grabbed the lead back early in the second half.  Trailing 31-26, Murphy drained a three-pointer followed by a trey from Lynch to earn the one point advantage over the Spartans with 16:52 left in the game.  Norfolk State answered back with a lay-up, but the Murhy-Lynch tandem struck again, nailing back-to-back threes to secure the 38-33 advantage. 
 
Chowan fouls allowed the Spartans to creep back into the game, but the Hawks were still able to lead 38-37 at the 14:42 mark.  The Hawks turned on the heat at that point, as Lynch's three-pointer and a total of four made free throws from Curtis and Karina Monroe allowed Chowan to pull ahead 45-39.  Another trey from Lynch at the 11:34 mark gave the Hawks a nine point lead. 
 
The Spartans took advantage of Hawks' fouls to pull within four with 8:13 left in the game.  Norfolk State grabbed the lead back with 5:44 remaining with a made jumper from Recca Trice to make the score 54-53.  Murphy's three-pointer gave the Hawks a 56-54 advantage with 4:25 left in the game, but a trey from Norfolk State's Kashay Price put the Spartans back in control.  With a 57-56 lead, and 3:17 left to play, Hawks' fouls allowed the Spartans to close out the game with a 60-56 win. 
 
Norfolk State improves to 2-8 after Wednesday's win.  The Spartans return to action on the 28^th as they travel to Charlottesville, VA for the University of Virginia Cavalier Classic. 
 
Chowan concludes 2012 with a loss, and an 0-9 overall record.  They return to action on January 3^rd of the New Year at home with a CIAA match-up against Fayetteville State University.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.