BOX SCORE

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) Bowie State University (18-10) dismantled Virginia Union University in CIAA Tournament quarterfinal action, romping over the Lady Panthers by the score of 67-43. 

Following a defeat over Livingstone College Tuesday night, the Lady Panthers got off to an early six point lead. Answering back, sophomore Lakisha Walker (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) of BSU drove through the Lady Panthers defense, dropped the basket and scored at the free throw line for the three point play to push Bowie State ahead for the first time of the game; 8-7 at the 12:55 mark of the first period. Junior Bianca Lee (Temple Hills, MD, Archbishop Carroll), a member of the 2009 All-CIAA team, dished up a 3-pointer and sophomore Teaunsha Robinson (Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Polytechnic), also a member of the 2009 All-CIAA team, added a basket to help bridge the Bowie State gap to 15-11. With 7:28 left in the first half, BSU's Lady Bulldogs had their biggest lead 21-13. Tonaye Smith, a member of the 2009 All-CIAA team, lit a spark for Virginia Union with a basket and sophomore Brittne Gowdy (Baltimore, MD, Milford Mill Academy) followed with a lay-up to decrease the BSU lead 21-17. 

Lee pushed right back with another 3-pointer for the half for Bowie State. Bowie State freshmen Juliette Turner (Silver Spring, MD, John F. Kennedy), a member of the 2009 All-Rookie Team, was assessed a technical foul and Micayla Ricks converted both baskets for the Lady Panthers; 19-26. Sophomore Brittney Jackson (Laurel, MD, Laurel) answered right back with a 3-pointer to give Bowie State a 10 point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Bulldogs went into the locker room ahead 31-20. Jackson led the Bowie State with nine points, one assist and one rebound and Lee added eight points and two rebounds. Smith was the leading scorer for the VUU's Lady Panthers with eight points and led all rebounders with seven for the first half. BSU shot 71 percent from the free throw line, shooting 10-of-14 and VUU shot 75 percent from the free throw line, shooting six-of-eight. 

The second half got underway and Bowie State came out with a fast-paced tempo; Senior Denisha Kenion (Ft. Washington, MD, Oxon Hill, University of Virginia), the 2009 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, dropped a 3-pointer from the corner. Bowie State continued to control the tempo and pulled out to a 40-24 advantage with 15:01 left in the game. BSU forced VUU turnovers and errors quickly in the second half and continued to mount their lead. The VUU bench called a timeout to discuss strategy to shift their momentum. Dashia Chandler responded following their scoring drought with two baskets for the Panthers and they were down 46-29 with less than 10 minutes to play in the game. 

Jackson floated a 3-pointer for the Lady Bulldogs and the Panthers drove up court for the foul. Smith hit one of two and the Panthers were down 31-51 with 6 minutes left in the game. At the point, junior Denita Hill (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) brilliantly ran the court for the Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Panthers could not find an answer to stop the bleeding. 

Jackson was the games leading scorer, pacing BSU's Lady Bulldogs with 15 points. Robinson and Lee both added 13 points with Robinson pulling down six rebounds. Walker was the defensive factor for the Lady Bulldogs with a team-high seven rebounds in the game. Smith led the Virginia Union with 14 points and 10 amazing rebounds. Chandler also added eight points and four rebounds for Virginia Union.