(Raleigh, NC) - The Shaw women's basketball team started the game hot, and used a stifling defense to build up a big lead in the first half, then cruise to a 93-57 win over Fayetteville State in a "Pink Zone" game played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.
With the gym and many of the fans bedecked in pink to help raise awareness of breast cancer, Shaw (14-10, 7-6 CIAA, 4-4 Division) held Fayetteville State (6-16, 4-9 CIAA, 1-7 Division) to 18.8 percent shooting from the floor in the first half, and 25.4 percent in the game overall. The Lady Bears drained 45.1 percent of their shots on the game.
The Shaw defense kept the Lady Broncos on the perimeter most of the evening, forcing them to take 22 shots from beyond the three-point line, and holding them to only 16 points in the paint. Shaw scored 46 from inside.
The Lady Bears got double-doubles from three different players on the night: Aslea Williams, Kyria Buford and Demaria Liles.
The Lady Bears broke on top early with the combination of a hot hand and a smothering defense. With 16:41 left in the first half, Buford hit a three to make the score 10-0. The Lady Broncos would score a single free throw a minute later, but that was the only point they would score until 12:19 remained in the half. By that time, the Lady Bears had built a 17-3 lead and would not look back.
With 7:17 left in the half, a three pointer from FSU's LaQuasha Jordan cut the Shaw lead to 13, but the Lady Bears scored six unanswered points – three from Brittany Ransom and three from Aslea Williams – to stretch the lead back to 19.
With three seconds left in the half, Jannelle Harrison, in her first game back from injury, sank a pair of free throws to set the halftime score at 45-23 for the Lady Bears.
The Lady Broncos never cut the lead below 20 in the second, and were behind by 30 or more for much of the period.
Williams led the Lady Bears with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Buford had 14 points and pulled in ten boards, while Liles had 12 points and pulled in 11 boards. Ransom had 10 for Shaw. Both Brittney Spencer and Allyssa Lane had six assists.
For the Lady Broncos, Jordan finished with 12 points and Je'Lena Roberston had ten. Tiffany Haywood led FSU with seven rebounds.
The Lady Bears travel to Winston-Salem Monday for a game against Winston-Salem State. Tip is 5:30 p.m. Shaw returns home Thursday, February 24 for their season ender - a matchup against cross-town rival Saint Augustine's. Tip is 6:00 p.m. at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus. NOTE: The men's game against Saint Augustine's will be played on Saturday, February 26, not as a doubleheader with the women.
Photos: Dressed in pink to help raise awareness about breast cancer (left), the Lady Bears watch action unfold in the first half. Kyria Buford (right) was one of three players with a double-double.
