(Ettrick, VA) – Shaw women's basketball team committed 30 turnovers, leading to 21 Virginia State points, and fell to the Lady Trojans in overtime, 74-68.

Shaw (8-5, 1-1 CIAA) started slowly in all three periods of play, only scoring their first bucket in the game after five minutes had already ticked off the clock.  In the overtime, Shaw did not hit their first field goal until the Lady Trojans (7-3, 1-1 CIAA) already held a six-point lead. 

Neither team could find a scoring touch in the first.  While Shaw hit two early free throws, Virginia State did not hit their first bucket until 16:04 remained on the clock, while the Lady Bears didn't hit their first field goal until Aslea Williams hit a jumper in the lane with 14:47 left in the first.

Jackie Sanders hit two straight three pointers that helped the Lady Bears build a 10-6 lead with 13:13 left in the half.  Shaw managed to stretch the lead to as many as 13.

Virginia State stayed in the game because of a strong game under the bucket, outrebounding the Lady Bears 58-44, and collecting 28 offensive rebounds and converting that into 20 second chance points (compared to only seven for Shaw).

Before the half ended, the Lady Trojans had cut that 13-point lead to only five, 37-32. 

Both teams started slowly in the second.  With over six minutes gone in the half, the two teams had scored only eight points total, with Shaw still holding a five-point, 41-36 lead.

The Lady Trojans continued to convert their advantage on the boards into points, and with 6:53 left in the game, Mariame Sylla pulled down a missed three-pointer and hit the layup to give VSU a 53-52 advantage.  Virginia State hit two more straight buckets to bring their lead to 57-52 with 6:06 left.

The Lady Bears fought back and with 29 seconds left on the clock, Brittney Spencer hit a layup and was fouled.  She converted the free throw to tie the game.  Temperance Brantley's three fell short for the Lady Trojans as the clock hit zero, sending the game into overtime with the score tied at 59.

VSU scored the first six points in overtime and never looked back.  Shaw could never cut the lead to less than four, and failed to take advantage of Virginia State turnovers and fouls.

Spencer had 19 points and eight assists to lead the Lady Bears.  Sanders was the only other Shaw player in double figures with ten points and led Shaw with eight rebounds. 

Rhon'Neisha Taylor had 23 points for Virginia State and Betty Appiah had 19.  Sylla finished with ten.  Taylor had the double-double pulling in 11 rebounds and led the Lady Trojans with five assists.

The Lady Bears continue their three-game road trip on Monday as they take on Virginia Union at 5:30 p.m.  They next play at home on Saturday, January 15, when they host Chowan.  Tip is at 6:00 p.m.

Photos:Brittney Spencer (left) had 19 points to lead Shaw, while Jackie Sanders had 10.