FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – In a low scoring game, the Bowie State women's basketball team escaped with a road win over Fayetteville State at Capel Arena Monday afternoon for their fifth win in the last six games for Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) cross division action.
Freshman Saniha Jackson (Ellicott City, MD) scored the game's first basket, giving Bowie State (10-9, 8-4 CIAA) a lead early on. The Broncos stole lead after a 3-pointer from Imani Elliott at the 5:47 mark. FSU rode out the rest of the quarter on a 11-5 run capped off by a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Aniylah Bryant to give the Broncos an 18-11 lead over Bowie State at the end of the first.
The Bulldogs started to pick up momentum, when senior Amani Ball (Laurel, MD) netted a 3-pointer from deep that led to a 6-4 scoring advantage for BSU. Senior Talanya Hutton (Seat Pleasantville, MD) knocked down a trey ball that would give the game its fourth tie on the day as both teams had 24 points apiece at halftime.
Despite Fayetteville State (11-9, 8-4 CIAA) building a seven-point lead – its largest of the game, nothing drastically separated the two teams in the third quarter after freshman Andria Gadson (Bowie, MD) knocked down a 3-ball to close the Bulldogs gap to four (35-31) at the end of the frame.
After FSU scored the fourth quarter's first three points, Bowie State mustered a 12-3 run to take its second lead of the game led by freshman Anii Harris (Ellicott City, MD) who had seven points in the span. With a 43-41 lead and 1:01 remaining in regulation, neither teams scored again until Harris hit 1-of-2 free throws with 11 seconds left. A free throw shot by Gadson padded the Bulldogs lead to four before Fayetteville State hit a 3-pointer just as time expired which allowed the Bulldogs to escape with the one-point edge.
Bowie State got a productive effort from its bench, highlighted by Ball's team-high of 13 points and five rebounds while Harris chipped in 10 points, four assists and three rebounds. The bench held a 35-12 margin over Fayetteville State in scoring. Redshirt freshman Katerra Myers (Burtonsville, MD) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs defense.
Collectively, the Bulldogs held a 11-5 advantage in second chance opportunities, forcing the Broncos to commit 24 turnovers.
Bowie State will resume division action on Thursday, Feb. 10 at Virginia Union with a tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m. from Barco-Stevens Hall.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
