RALEIGH, N.C. - Leading by only three at the half, the Shaw University women's basketball team held visiting Elizabeth City State to only 13 points in the second half to come away with a 67-39 win in a contest played Thursday night at Shaw's C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

The game is the first CIAA action for both teams this season.  With the win, Shaw improves to 7-4 overall, while ECSU falls to 3-7.

After shooting 31 percent in the first half, the Lady Vikings hit only 11.1 percent of their shots in the second, facing a staunch Shaw defense that allowed them to get off 36 shots, but only sink 11.  Shaw also outrebounded ECSU 62-30. 

The game was sloppy at both ends at times, with both teams committing numerous turnovers.  ECSU had 21 turnovers in the game, while Shaw had 31 miscues.

The final score belied a close first half that featured eight ties and five lead changes.

With 15:54 left in the first half, the score was tied at six after a jumper from Kaula Jack for Shaw.  ECSU sandwiched two three pointers around a Shaw two to build a four-point lead with 14:50 left.  Two minutes later, and still trailing by four, Shaw scored five straight points to take their first lead of the contest on a free throw from Diamond Mitchell that made the score 15-14.

For most of the rest of the half, Shaw was either tied or held a two-point lead, but the Lady Vikings reclaimed the lead on a three from Jadda Jefferies that made the score 26-24 with 2:29 remaining.  It would be the last score of the half for ECSU as Shaw closed out the period on a five-point run, ending with a jumper by Nicole Dias that made the halftime score 29-26.

Verdine Warner tipped in a missed shot from Mitchell to open the scoring in the second half.  ECSU responded with a single free throw, then Shaw scored eight straight, culminating with a layup from Jack to give the Lady Bears a 39-27 lead with 15:22 left in the contest.

ECSU sank another three, was fouled and converted the four-point play to stop the bleeding, but then Shaw scored 11 straight to build a 19-point lead on a three from Micah Brooks with 10:14 left in the contest. 

With 7:51 left in the game, Khadijah Bryant hit a layup on a pass from Jefferies to trim the Shaw lead to 17 at 53-36.  Shaw then scored the next 12, taking a 65-36 lead on a jumper from Bryann Guyton. 

The Lady Vikings closed out the game on a 3-2 run, but it did little to dent the lead, with Shaw claiming the 67-39 win.

Guyton had a breakout game for the Lady Bears, scoring 15 points and pulling in nine rebounds.  Newcomer Kamiya Burwell had 13 points and Jack finished with 11.  Brooks had 13 rebounds, and Mitchell five assists to lead Shaw.

Jefferies was the only Lady Viking to score in double digits, with 16 points.  No other ECSU player had more than five points.  Ashley Hughes had eight rebounds and DaShera Boone had four assists to pace the Lady Vikings.

The Lady Bears return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Chowan at 2:00 p.m.  The game is at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus.