BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie State University women's basketball team dropped a close one at home against Virginia State, falling short by a score of 53-51 after the Bulldogs missed the game tying layup as time expired in the A.C. Jordan Arena Wednesday Evening. This loss drops Bowie State's record to 16-4, 8-3 in the CIAA and 1-3 in the Northern Division.
 
Junior Kyaja Williams led Bowie State in scoring with 19 points, with most of the damage coming in the second half. Williams also added eight rebounds in the ball game. With Redshirt senior Pere Alexander out with an arm injury, no other Bulldog was in double figure in points. Alexander was honored a halftime of the men's game with a framed photo as one of the CIAA Lowes Senior CLASS Award honorees.
 
Virginia State's Shayln Washington and Autumn Hopson had team-highs in points with 11 apiece helping the Trojans secure their first win in the division. Chrisanna Green tallied a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. With the win, VSU now improves to 8-10 overall, 3-7 in the CIAA and 1-3 in the Northern Division.
 
Junior Dynaisha Christian's jumper tied the game at 2-2 after Shayln Washington opened the scoring at 8:08 in the first period. Scoring was hard to come by with Alexander's 11.2 points per game missing, so the Bulldogs turned to their leading scorer Williams to pick up the slack. Redshirt freshman Angel Green's mid-range jumper gave the Bulldogs the lead to end the first period at 12-10.
 
Senior Lea Whitehead extended BSU's lead 14-11 with a jump shot followed by junior Amel Duggins at 8:19 in the second period. VSU responded with a three of their own by Aja Robertson to cut the deficit to one. With the game tied at 18-all at the 4:14 mark, Williams took matters into her own hands and scored the Bulldogs final five points to end the half at 23-18.
 
Christian's jumper to open the third period gave the Bulldogs a 25-18 lead but Virginia State's Yazmen Hannah and Hopson three's got the Trojans within one The back and forth continued with BSU's Williams leading the charge with another layup before Hopson responded with a layup of her own at 3:22. Drew Calhoun's three late in the period gave Bowie State breathing room before VSU's Green knocked down a three of her own to pull VSU within four (37-33) with 1:55 to go in the third. A layup Bowie State freshman Chyna Butler ended the period with the Bulldogs up 41-35.
 
The Trojans quick 5-0 run to open the fourth got them within one before Robertson gave the visitors its first lead at 42-41 after her steal from Butler at the 7:24 mark. Washington gave Virginia State their biggest lead at 45-41 after she went 1-of-2 at the free-throw with 4:07 remaining in the fourth period.
 
Williams' layup with 16 seconds to go seemed to be the potential game-winner at 51-50 but VSU's Washington had other plans when she hit a dagger three to give the Trojans the lead back at 53-51 with just five seconds to go. Bowie State missed an opportunity to tie the game when Christian's layup rolled off the rim.
 
Bowie State will return to action on Saturday February 2nd when they host Elizabeth City State University. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.