BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie State University women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 52-51 division loss to nationally ranked Virginia Union University in the A.C. Jordan Arena on Wednesday evening.
Junior forward Kyaja Williams had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds but that wasn't enough, setting the Bulldogs record at 15-3 overall, 7-2 in league and 0-2 within the division. Freshman guard Drew Calhoun added 11 points and junior Dynaisha Christian ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds.   PHOTOS (Courtesy of Carroll Smith)

Bowie State started the game on a 7-0 run before a Shareka McNeill jumper stopped the bleeding at 8:21 in the first period. The Bulldogs would go on another 7-0 run which was capped off by 3-pointer by sophomore Talanya Hutton, that led to a 14-11 home team after one quarter of play.

A pair of Williams' free throws commenced Bowie State's second period to extend the lead to 16-11. The third-year forward then converted a layup after a steal with 7:41 remaining in the second period.
The Panthers would later claw their way back after Nicole Floyd's two jump shots cut the lead to 20-16. Bianca Lockamy's corner three gave Virginia Union its first lead in the game at 21-20 with 4:09 left in the first half.

The lead would change hands twice before the Bulldogs were able to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs increased its lead to four mid-way through the third period before VUU's Rejoice Spivey's layup cut it back down 34-31 with 3:51 to go in the period. The Panthers hung around all game because of Bowie State's inability to hit clutch free throws when it counted the most (15-of-22, 68.2 percent). Junior Amel Duggins' 3-pointer gave the home team some breathing room at 36-33 before Spivey and McNeill answered with a layup and jumper to cut the lead Bowie State lead to 39-38 heading into the final period.

An Ifunanya Okoye jumper gave the Panthers the lead at 40-39 to begin the fourth period before Bowie State redshirt senior Pere Alexander's layup gave the lead back to the Bulldogs. Virginia Union built its biggest lead in the game at 50-44 when Okoye converted on a layup at the 4:04 mark.

Bowie State's Calhoun drilled a huge 3-pointer that tied the game at 50-all with 1:28 remaining. Bowie State had a shot to secure the win but Christian and junior Shawnkia McCallum missed crucial free throws down the stretch.

With Bowie State leading 51-50 with 20 seconds remaining, Virginia Union called timeout that led to Shareka McNeill's game winning floater with 9 seconds to go in the contest.

Rejoice Spivey led all scorers with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds as Virginia Union improves to 16-1, 8-1 in the CIAA and 2-0 in the North. McNeill scored 11 points for the Lady Panthers and Floyd rounded out Virginia Union's double figure scorers with 10.

The Bulldogs head south for its next contest, traveling to Murfreesboro, N.C. to take on the Chowan Hawks on Saturday (January 26) at 2 p.m. in CU's Helms Center.