MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Women's Basketball team could not overcome the slow start against nationally ranked Virginia Union on Senior Day at home on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 41, #8 Virginia Union 66

RECORDS | Chowan 13-14 (9-8), Virginia Union 24-2 (15-2)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Jada Lee led the Hawks with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals.  Olivia Gaither finished with 11 pointns.

Joanne Williams finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Hawks shot 12.5% (4-32) in the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

Virginia Union raced out to a 15-0 lead before Olivia Gaither scored the first basket for the Hawks.  Chowan would get its next four points at the stripe from Joanne Williams and Gaither.

Jada Lee finished off the quarter with a pair from the stripe to trail 17-9.

Second Quarter:

Jahkeria Bagby went 1-2 from the stripe before Jada Lee hit a layup.  VUU pushed their advantage to 27-12 late in the quarter.

Jada Lee knocked down a pair of three-pointers but the Panthers answered on both attempts.

VUU led 33-18 at the break.

Third Quarter:

Jordan Pettaway put the Hawks on the board in the second half with a three-point play.  Brianna Copeland added a layup in transition.

The Panthers ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 52-24.

Fourth Quarter:

Olivia Gaither knocked down a three-pointer in transition and Jahkeria Bagby added a layup.  Jordan Pettaway and Gaither knocked down three-pointers to close the gap.  Bagby added a pair from the stripe to trim the deficit to 57-37.

VUU went on a 9-2 run as Olivia Gaither and Kaylah Henderson picked up a point at the stripe.

Brianna Copeland added a layup to finish off the contest.

UP NEXT

Chowan secured the fourth seed in the Northern Division heading into the CIAA Tournament.  The Hawks will face the fifth seeded Claflin out of the Southern Division on Tuesday, February 26.  Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00am in Charlotte, N.C. at Bojangles Coliseum.

Chowan defeated Claflin on December 1, 85-76, in Murfreesboro.