BOWIE, Md. – Junior forward Kyaja Williams scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Bowie State outlasted Claflin University, 60-50 at the A.C. Jordan Arena on Monday evening.
 
Redshirt senior Pere Alexander finished with seven points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds as the Bulldogs move to 9-1 on the year and 2-0 in the CIAA. Bowie State dominated on the glass, out-rebounding Claflin 44-25 and advantages in points in the paint (24-14), points off turnovers (16-9) and second chance points (19-8).
 
With the score tied at 14-14, Bowie State used a 5-0 run to end the first period 19-14 after a clutch three-point shot by Alexander. Claflin shot 42.9 percent in that quarter to keep up with the red-hot Bulldogs, who shot 54.5 percent from field.
 
Although the Bulldogs kept the pressure on in the second quarter, the Lady Panthers refused to go away, keeping the game close at 30-22 just before the half. Both teams struggled from the field in the second period with Bowie State going 4-of-16 (25 percent) and Claflin, 3-of-14 (21 percent).
 
The Lady Panthers cut the Bulldogs lead to six (30-24) in the third period at the 8:41 hoping to make a run of their own but the home team led by Williams never let up extending their lead to 41-28 at the 3:29 mark in the third period. Claflin cut the 44-36 deficit to eight heading into the fourth period.
 
There was no quitting in Claflin as they kept the game close following a three pointer by Deja Dickens at the 6:18 mark in the fourth period to trim the Bowie State lead to 48-41. Sharri Mack's jumper at the 4:24 mark sliced the BSU lead to 49-44.
 
The Bulldogs responded with a deep triple by freshman guard Drew Calhoun at the 3:03 mark followed by a breakaway layup by Williams to push Bowie State's lead to 54-45.
 
The Lady Panthers used a mini 4-0 run to narrow their deficit to 54-49 but that would be as close as the Bulldogs defense would let Claflin get. Fourth period free throws 9-of-12 (75 percent) helped the Bowie State prevail in the end.
 
Ashley Fields had a team-high 18 points to go along with a team-best eight rebounds for the Claflin who dropped to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The Lady Panthers duo of Dashia Jackson and Shakarri Mack accounted for 10 points each.
 
The Bulldogs return to the court Sunday (December 30) at Bloomfield College to close out non-conference play. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.