BLUEFIELD, WV -- The Bowie State women's basketball team received a 22-point performance from the bench on the way to a 70-63 win against the Bluefield State Lady Blues (13-11, 7-8, 3-5 North) on the road Monday.

The Bulldogs had three players score in double figures. Anii Harris led with 20 points. Mia Smith added 14 points and two steals off of the bench. Jayla Irvin chipped in as well with 13 points and two steals.

BSU pulled down 50 rebounds in the matchup compared to Bluefield State's 35. Led by Saniha Jackson's 13 boards. The Bulldogs also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 21 rebounds into 22 second chance points.

How It Happened
After falling behind 11-7, Bowie State (13-12, 7-8, 2-6 North) went on a 5-0 run with 2:34 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Robyn Howard, to take a 12-11 lead. The Bulldogs then lost that lead and entered the second quarter down 14-12.

The Bulldogs continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 29-26 halftime deficit.

Bluefield State continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 40-35 advantage before Bowie State went on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Irvin, to grab a 44-40 lead with 24 seconds to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lady Blues had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Bulldogs still entered the fourth quarter with a 44-42 edge. Bowie State played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 18 points in the paint.

Bowie State kept its lead intact before going on a 7-0 run to grow the lead to 59-51 with 4:22 to go in the contest. The Lady Blues narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Bulldogs still cruised the rest of the way for the 70-63 win. Bowie State got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 14 of its 26 total points.

Game Notes
» Bowie State shot well from three point range, knocking down six of 14 long range attempts.
» BSU held the Lady Blues to only 38.1 percent shooting from the field.
» The Bulldogs bench made an impact by adding 22 points to its scoring output.
» Bowie State had a 50-35 edge on the boards in the win.
» BSU cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 21 offensive boards in the game.
» Anii Harris led the Bulldogs with a game-high 20 points.
» Bowie State got a game-high 13 rebounds from Saniha Jackson.

Up Next
Bowie State will travel Petersburg, VA to face Virginia State from the Multipurpose Center on Wednesday Feb. 21. The matchup is set to begin 5:30 p.m. (ET).
 
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.