CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Fayetteville State turned up its defense to down nationally-ranked Bowie State 61-53 to claim the CIAA women's basketball championship at the Spectrum Center on Saturday.

The Broncos (21-8 overall) earned the conference's automatic qualifying bid with the victory. The Bulldogs, ranked 25th in the D2SIDA National Poll, is expected to receive an at-large bid. The CIAA could send as many as four teams to the NCAA Division II Tournament with Bowie State, Lincoln (Pa.) and Virginia Union ranked high in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll.

The conference title is the first since 2012 and the fourth overall for the Broncos, the CIAA Southern Division champions. Last season, the Broncos suffered a blowout loss to Virginia Union in the title game.

The outcome was much different this time. The Broncos pressured the Bulldogs into 22 turnovers, which FSU turned into 21 points. Several turnovers occurred during a critical late stretch in the fourth period to thwart a comeback attempt from Bowie State (25-5 overall), which pulled within 53-50 with 2:31 remaining on Kyaja Williams' three-point play off a steal.

Keyed by its defense, the Broncos outscored the Bulldogs 8-3 down the stretch. The Bulldogs' trailed by six with 14.8 seconds left when their final turnover occurred, sealing the win for the Broncos.

Fayetteville State collected 17 steals in the championship victory and outshot Bowie State (20-29 to 7-10) at the free throw line. Shantel Bennett scored a game-high 24 points and added four steals in addition to four assists. Tournament MVP Katisha Hyman had 20 points and five steals and London Thompson tallied five steals, four assists and a game-high 17 rebounds. Chantel Williams finished with three steals and six rebounds in addition to five points.

CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Kyaja Williams gave a yeoman's effort for the Bulldogs, the No. 3 Northern Division seed. She totaled 14 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Dynaisha Christian tallied nine points and 13 rebounds and Drew Calhoun had eight points.

The Bulldogs fell short of capturing their first title since 1999, but Head Coach Shadae Swan is confident her team can bounce back. "Playing three games in a row, we started to get a little fatigue," Swan said. "We didn't have the same energy. Every time we made a run, they made a run in return. We didn't play our best today. "This is a tough loss," Swan added. "But if we play the way that we've been playing, we can go far in the NCAA Tournament."
 
The Broncos started fast, opening an 8-0 lead and building the margin to 11 points in the first period. The Bulldogs established themselves in the second period, taking a 24-23 lead on Christian's jumper. Bowie State stayed in front until Hyman ended the first half with a spectacular dribble-between-the legs pull up jumper to the contest at 32-32.

The Bulldogs led early in the third period. After trailing 38-34 early, FSU closed out the period with a 13-3 run capped by Bennett's layup for a 47-41 lead heading into the final stanza.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final minute of a one-point quarterfinal victory over Lincoln (Pa.). The Broncos would not allow a comeback on Saturday.

Hyman headed the 10-player All-CIAA Tournament Team. The other members were Chantel Williams of Fayetteville State, Kyaja Williams of Bowie State, O'Shea Hatley of Winston-Salem State, Natalia Leaks of Virginia State, Ny'Asia Davis of Elizabeth City State, Shameka McNeill of Virginia Union, Brandi Seegars of Winston-Salem State, Shawnkia McCullum of Bowie State and Talanya Hutton of Bowie State.

Bowie State was the winner of the CIAA Women's Sportsmanship Award and will now have to wait see if it receives a bid to the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament.