BOWIE, MD — The Bowie State women's basketball team (6-2, 0-1 CIAA) fell to Winston-Salem State, 68-58, despite outscoring their opponent 18-10 in the final quarter. The Bulldogs secured 18 second-chance points and 30 points in the paint, but could not overcome Winston-Salem's 23 points off turnovers.

The Bulldogs struck first in the opening quarter as Mayah Garner connected on a jumper at the 9:08 mark, assisted by Mia Smith. Winston-Salem State answered with a three-point play from Makayla Waleed and continued to apply pressure in transition. Chaniya Taylor helped Bowie State stay within reach late in the quarter with a layup and a free throw, but the Rams carried a 20-13 lead into the second period.

BSU looked to regain momentum in the second quarter but struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-13. The Bulldogs made the most of their opportunities at the free-throw line, converting five of seven attempts. Afia Owusu-Mensah capped the half with a layup in the closing seconds to trim the deficit, sending Bowie State into halftime trailing 35-24.

The Rams extended their advantage in the third quarter by capitalizing on Bulldog turnovers. Bowie State found a spark midway through the period when Smith knocked down a three-pointer, but WSSU continued to respond, pushing the lead to 58-40 by the end of the quarter.

Bowie State showed resilience in the final period, outscoring Winston-Salem 18-10. Gabriella Clary opened the quarter with a layup, and the Bulldogs continued to chip away behind strong defensive rebounds and transition opportunities. Smith led the late push with consecutive baskets, cutting the margin to 68-58 with under a minute remaining. Despite the rally, the Bulldogs were unable to close the gap as the Rams held on for the win down the stretch.

Bowie State Top Performers

Mia Smith

• 13 points
•  2 steals
•  2 assists

Chaniya Taylor

• 9 points
• 6 rebounds
• 2 blocks

Jada Bouknight

• 5 rebounds
• 3 blocks

Up Next
The Bulldogs return to action on Monday, Dec. 15, hosting Livingstone College for Hoops & Holly Night. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m., inside A.C. Jordan Arena.

For the latest information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports, visit bsubulldogs.com.