BOX SCORE

(BOWIE, Md.)  Bowie State picked up a key CIAA Northern Division win, defeating Elizabeth City State 66-53 and stopped a four-game slide for the Lady Bulldogs. The BSU Lady Bulldogs record improves to 8-7 overall, 4-4 in the CIAA and 1-1 in the division.

Sophomore Cortney Baynard (Dover, DE, Caesar Rodney) and junior Chanita Jordan (Philadelphia, PA, University City, North Carolina State) scored Bowie State's first five points of the game and that was all the advantage the Lady Bulldogs would need. Elizabeth City State trailed but just two (7-5) early in the contest, but Bowie State extended their lead to double digits with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

The Lady Bulldogs defense held ECSU's Lady Vikings to nine-of-29 field (31 percent) goal shooting in the first period and created 13 turnovers. Elizabeth City State held a 20-18 rebound advantage in the first half, but missed out on several second chance opportunities.

Bowie State had a better first half shooting percentage than their opponent, hitting 12-of-27 (44 percent) from the field which included three-of-four beyond the 3-point line. Bowie State's bench shut out Elizabeth City State's bench, holding an 11-0 advantage in that category, helping the Lady Bulldogs take a 32-21 lead into halftime.

Elizabeth City State (12-6, 5-3 CIAA, 1-1 North) timed their deficit to eight points three time in the second half, but really weren't an offensive threat.

The Bowie State lead grew to a game-high 19 points (49-30) with 9:46 remaining in the game. Bowie State went cold after that as Elizabeth City State used a 20-10 run over the next nine minutes. Fortunately for Bowie State, the damage had already been done.

While Elizabeth City State's shooting percentage fell to 27 percent (nine-of-34) in the final half of play, the Lady Bulldogs' shooting percentage increased to 52 percent. Bowie State made 11-of-21 second half field goals and 12-of-20 free throws in the final period.   

Senior Lakisha Walker (Baltimore, MD, St. Frances Academy) and Jordan scored a team-high 11 points each to lead Bowie State. Jordan also recorded a BSU personal best seven blocked shots. Junior Juliette Turner (Atlanta, GA, John F. Kennedy) and freshman TaNika Jeffers (Baltimore, MD, Baltimore City C.C.) contributed 10 points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs.

Shaquella Johnson led Elizabeth City State with 18 points and Stephanie Harper added a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Lady Vikings.

Elizabeth City State returns home to host Chowan on Thursday (January 27th) while Bowie State welcomes the Lions of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania to the A.C. Jordan Arena for a 7:30 pm contest on Thursday as well.