MURFREESBORO, N.C. — The Chowan University women's basketball team picked up a key divisional victory over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday night. Powered by an early first-quarter run, the Hawks controlled the game throughout to secure the 71-56 win. With the victory, Chowan improves to 7-6 overall and 5-4 in Conference Carolinas play.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 71,  UNC Pembroke 56

RECORDS | Chowan (7-6, 5-4) , UNC Pembroke (4-10, 4-3)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Athletic Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

After UNC Pembroke opened the scoring at the free-throw line, the Hawks quickly answered, pulling away with an eight-point advantage by the end of the first quarter. That momentum carried into the second, as Chowan capitalized on 11 UNC Pembroke turnovers, converting them into 12 points. The Hawks shot 63.2 percent in the quarter and controlled the glass, outrebounding the Braves 21–13 to take a commanding lead into halftime.

Chowan continued to apply pressure coming out of the break, stretching its lead to 24 points with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Hawks maintained their dominance in the fourth, closing out the contest with a 71–56 victory.

Wisdom Banks led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, including 15 in the first half. She finished 10-15 from the floor and 2-3 at the line, while adding five rebounds and four steals. Nyeisha Savage added 11 points on 5-9 shooting, along with five rebounds and a block. Desiree Askew and Alexandria James-Fearon each contributed eight points. Askew was a perfect 3-3 from the field, recording four rebounds, an assist, and a steal, while James-Fearon also grabbed four rebounds with an assist and a steal.

Yasmine Brown chipped in six points, while Sa'ni Savage, Keilani Johnson, and Breya Busby each scored four. Daneesha Briggs and Jade Clowney rounded out the scoring with two points apiece, with Briggs adding four rebounds and a steal and Clowney collecting two steals in seven minutes of action.

Chowan shot 45.7 percent from the field and dominated inside with 52 points in the paint, 27 second-chance points, and 24 bench points. The Hawks also pulled down 41 rebounds and outscored the Braves in each of the first three quarters.

UP NEXT

The Hawks head to Belmont, North Carolina, on Saturday, January 17, to take on Belmont Abbey College, with tip-off set for 2:00 PM.