CHARLOTTE, N.C. - There was a shakeup in the #9 (D2SIDA National Poll)  Bowie State starting lineup and Johnson C. Smith took advantage of it and simply wanted it more, as the Golden Bulls handed the Bulldogs a 49-38 setback on Thursday evening in Brayboy Gymnasium. Bowie State entered the game 13-0 and tied for first in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll. 
 
Senior forward Kyaja Williams (Baltimore, Md.) was the only Bulldog player in double-figures with 13 points and was a rebound shy of a another double-double. She also had four steals in the contest while Johnson C. Smith's Le'Zarea Bowens led all scorers with 17 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Golden Bulls. DeNajah Porter had a monster game on the glass, pulling down 16 boards.
 
 Johnson C. Smith improves to 6-8 overall (2-4 in league play) while Bowie State moves to 13-1 overall and 3-1 in the CIAA.
 
Although Bowie State held a 23-13 advantage in points off turnovers, 12-12 in second chances and held the Golden Bulls to shooting just 30.2 percent (16-of-53), they were still out played tonight. The Bulldogs shot an astonishing 29.4 percent (17-of-57) from the floor and turned the ball over 20 times.
 
The first half was a dismal one for the Bulldogs as the team struggled to find their way offensively. However, the team clamped down in the second quarter, allowing just seven points. Johnson C. Smith gained an 11-6 lead over BSU with 2:21 left in the first period. A layup by Aaliyah Bell extended the lead as the Golden Bulls owned 14-6 after one quarter of action.
Bowie State held an 15-7 scoring frame in the second quarter and took 17-16 lead after 11-0 run to open the period. Bowens layup snapped the scoring drought for JSCU with 6:07 left. From there, both teams went back and forth as they went into the bread tied 21-21.
 
The Golden Bulls opened the third period on an 6-0 run to grab 27-21 lead while building its biggest lead of the night 35-26 after Aubrianna Bonner went 1-2 at the free throw line. BSU struggled offensively, scoring just five points as the Golden Bulls kept the pedal down to take 36-26 lead into the fourth.
 
Williams, who was the only bright spot for Bowie State tonight knocked down a jumper to cut the deficit to 39-29 after Maiya Green's deep ball gave JCSU their biggest lead of 12. The fourth quarter is usually where the Bulldogs put teams away, but not tonight. The Golden Bulls pulled away early before fending off a late comeback effort by BSU. Williams's layup with 1:18 left gave BSU hope it was a little too late as JCSU picked up the win at home.
 
The #18 Bowie Sate will look to bounce back on Saturday (1/11) when they travel to Columbia (S.C) to face Claflin University in CIAA showdown. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.