BOX SCORE

(ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.) Bowie State held off a pesky Elizabeth City State team, winning a key CIAA Eastern Division contest 72-63. The win improves Bowie State to 16-10 overall, 14-4 in the CIAA and locks up the East at 6-2 and a first round bye in next weeks CIAA Tournament.

Bowie State rolled out to an early 15-3 advantage and increased their lead to 23-10 by the 9:11 mark of the first half. However, Elizabeth City State was not impressed. ECSU's Lady Vikings went on a 6-0 run to pull within seven and closed the gap to 31-27 by halftime.

Joyce Freeman was a key for Elizabeth City State in the first half, scoring nine points and Ashley Alexander added seven. Elizabeth City State made 11-of-34 first half field goal attempts, with three of those made field goals behind the arc.

ECSU's Briana Glover began the second half with a layup but Bowie State answered with an 11-0 run, giving the Bowie State Lady Bulldogs a 42-29 cushion. Bowie State maintained a double-digit lead most of the second half with sophomores Lakisha Walker (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) and Teaunsha Robinson (Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Polytechnic) leading the charge. Elizabeth City State was able to pull within 66-59 with 2:28 left to play following a conventional three-point play by Glover.

Bowie State shot a blistering 58 percent from the field in the second half on 14-of-24 shooting. Four of five Bowie State starters scored in double figures with Robinson leading the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points. Junior Bianca Lee (Temple Hills, MD, Archbishop Carroll) added 13 to the book and Walker, senior Denisha Kenion (Ft. Washington, MD, Oxon Hill) and junior Denita Hill (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) chipped in a dozen points each. Freshman Juliette Turner (Silver Spring, MD, John F. Kennedy), a member of the CIAA All-Rookie Team, led BSU in rebounds with seven to go along with six points.

Glover paced the Lady Vikings of Elizabeth City State with 20 points and Freeman added 13 points. Kearah Jefferys scored 11 points and April Whitaker pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for ECSU. Elizabeth City State (6-20, 3-14 CIAA, 3-4 East) host Virginia Union – Saturday, February 21st at 5:30 p.m. to close out the regular season.

Bowie State will close out the regular season – Thursday, February 19th, traveling across town to face the Lady Pioneers of Columbia Union College at 6:30 p.m.