BOWIE, Md. – Bowie State University women's basketball hosted #2 Virginia Union University on Wednesday evening and came up a little short, falling 77-70 in the A.C. Jordan Arena. The loss sets the Bulldogs overall record at 14-3, 6-2 in the CIAA and 1-1 in the North.   PHOTOS (Courtesy of Yusuf Abdullah)
 
Senior Denver Clyde (Glen Burnie, Md.) recorded a personal season-high 18 points to go along with team-best eight rebounds in the setback. Juniors Kiara Colston (Burtonsville, Md.) and Kyah Proctor (Capitol Heights, Md.) contributed 16 and 15 points respectively while freshman Kyaja Williams (Baltimore, Md.) and junior Lisa Jing (Laurel, Md.) tallied nine points each for Bowie State. Williams ranked second on the team in rebounds with seven
 
The Lady Panthers took a 32-29 lead into halftime, primarily on 57.1 percent shooting from the field. After trailing 16-10 after the first quarter, Virginia Union came alive in second quarter, making 8-of-12 field goals (66.7 percent).
 
The Bulldogs on the other hand made just 10-of-34 from the field (29.4 percent) in the first 20 minutes and kept it close thanks to 6-of-10 three pointers.
 
Virginia Union's Brittany Jackson (Sebastian, Fla.) scored the Lady Panthers first three points of the third quarter only to have Bowie State answer with a 5-0 run to pull the Bulldogs within one at 35-34 at the 7:17 mark.
 
Bowie State regained the lead at 38-37 following a Proctor jumper with 5:28 left in the third quarter. However, Virginia Union's Kishona Sutton (Norfolk, Va.) converted a traditional three-point play on the Panthers next possession to shift the advantage back over to the visitors for good.
 
The Bulldogs were able to tie the game twice over the final 2:42 of the third quarter but trailed 48-46 heading on to the final quarter of play.
 
The Panthers lead grew to a game-high 11 points (71-60) and the defending CIAA Champions were on their way to its 16th straight win of the year.
 
Virginia Union (16-0, 7-0 CIAA, 2-0 North) was led by Jackson with a game-high 30 points (22 in the second half). Lady Walker (Cleveland, Ohio) and Jamika Ruffin (Wilson, N.C.) rounded out the Panthers double figure scorers with 14 and 10 points respectively. Ruffin and Walker tied for team-high rebound honors with eight apiece.
 
The Bulldogs travel south for their next contest, making a stop in Murfreesboro (N.C.) to take on the Hawks of Chowan University at 2 p.m. Saturday (1/21) afternoon.