BRISTOL, TENN. – The Chowan Women's Basketball team overcame their slow start to pick up the win on the road against King in the regular season finale on Thursday evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 57, King 52
RECORDS | Chowan 17-9 (17-7), King 13-12 (12-10)
LOCATION | Bristol, Tenn. (Student Center Complex)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Destiny Robinson notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Monique Jones added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Chowan was held to their lowest total in a single quarter with five in the first period. The Hawks rebounded to lead 26-21 at the half.
The Hawks posted their first winning season since the 2017-18 season (19-9). Chowan posted the most wins in league play since the Hawks collected a 13-3 record in CIAA play in 2015-16.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Chowan failed to score for the opening eight minutes of the contest until Aniah Patterson put the Hawks on the board with a jumper to cut the deficit to 7-2.
Olivia Gaither knocked down a triple from the corner as the Tornado led 9-5 at the end of the opening period.
Second Quarter:
Keibra Hopkins opened the scoring for the Hawks in the period before Monique Jones added a layup and Shequana Jackson hit a jumper to even the score 11-all. Destiny Robinson added back-to-back buckets to offset the King points prior to Tyaysia Sharpe knocking down a pair of triples to take a 21-16 lead.
Monique Jones finished off the old-fashioned three-point play before Olivia Gaither picked up a pair from the stripe to lead 26-20 at the intermission.
Third Quarter:
Destiny Robinson recorded a putback basket to open the scoring in the half. Monique Jones added a layup before Robinson added another putback jumper.
King rallied with a 10-0 run to take the lead, 34-32, midway through the quarter. Monique Jones picked up a pair from the stripe to end a 3:30 drought. Jones added a layup to put the Hawks back on top 36-34.
After a basket by the Tornado, Destiny Robinson added a jumper to offset the basket. Monique Jones picked up a point at the stripe to lead 39-38 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
Jahkeria Bagby posted a putback basket to score the opening points in the frame for the Hawks. King regained the lead with a quick run, 42-41. Bagby handed the lead back to the Hawks with a layup before Demetria Bland connected from the floor, 45-42.
The Tornado evened the score at 45-all midway through the final stanza. Demetria Bland broke the tie with a layup prior to King hitting a pair at the stripe to knot the contest up. Jahkeria Bagby notched a layup before Destiny Robinson added a layup to lead 51-47 with 2:32 remaining.
With just under a minute to play, King converted a three-point play to close the gap to 51-50. Aniah Patterson added a point from the stripe with 36.3 remaining. Chowan would force a jump ball with 33.4 remaining allowing Demetria Bland to pick up a pair at the stripe after the Tornado had to foul.
King scored a layup to cut the deficit to 54-52 before Tyaysia Sharpe collecting a point at the stripe, 55-52. The Tornado had a chance to even the score with a three-pointer, but was unsuccessful. Demetria Bland finished off the contest at the line with a pair.
UP NEXT
Chowan secured the fourth seed in the Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship. The Hawks receive the bye until the quarterfinals played at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (Wofford) on March 4 against the winner of the 5-8-9 pool.
