RALEIGH, NC - The Shaw University women's basketball team closed out its 2014-15 regular season with an 78-71 victory over Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Bears improve to 18-10 overall, 11-5 in the CIAA and 8-2 in the Sothern Division.

Junior Kaula Jacks led five Shaw players in scoring double figures with 18 points and a game-high of five steals. Senior and CIAA Player of the Year Verdine Warner scored15 points and managed to pull down 19 rebounds. Newcomer of the week Fantasha Tyson netted 15 point, while Umeka Benson added 13 points for the Lady Bears..

Micah Brooks chipped in 12 points in the win against Johnson C. Smith.

Johnson C. Smith  (20-7, 10-6 CIAA, 6-4 South) was led by Shanequa Phifer   with a game-high 20 points along with five rebounds and four assists. Anika Jones added 13 points, while Ashley Porter recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Bulls.

The Lady Bears led by as much as eight points in the first half (15-9) before a three-pointer from Phifer at the 9:04 mark stopped the run. Johnson C. Smith leading the Lady Bears 33-28 into halftime.

Shaw opened the second half with a three-pointer from Tyson followed by a jumper from Benson.  The Lady Bears were able to take the lead back with another jumper from Benson, to bring the score up to 35-33. By the 4:53 mark Shaw clinched a double-digit lead until the Golden Bulls made one final push.

The Golden Bulls trimmed the deficit down to 63-56 with 4:43 remaining with a three-pointer from Phifer. The Golden Bulls would go on to make three more three-pointers in the game However, the Shaw defense buckled down and ended the game 78-71.

The Lady Bears shot 41.3% from the field and held the Golden Bulls to a mere 39.7% shooting average.  Shaw was able to capitalize off of turnovers from Johnson C. Smith, scoring on 27 points off of 26 turnovers.  

The Lady Bears will have three days off from competition before opening CIAA Tournament quarterfinal play on Wednesday, February 25th.