CHARLOTTE, N.C.  (Feb. 27, 2015) – Virginia State's Dashae Jones scored 17 points and led four Lady Trojans scorers in double figures, as the Trojans pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent history of the CIAA tournament with a crushing 69-47 win over four time defending champion, Shaw University in the second semi-final of the afternoon at Time Warner Cable Arena in downtown Charlotte.

 

Shaw opened the scoring with an inside basket by Umeka Benson, and after two failed possesions from Virginia State, Shaw's Verdine Warner gave Shaw a 6-0 lead after a made jump shot and free throws.

 

Virginia State would finally get going after a made three pointer from Dashae Jones, followed by a three from Cana Marriott to tie the game at 6-6.

 

The contest would go back and forth for the next few minutes, before the Virginia State Lady Trojans would force their will on the four time defending champions.

 

Virginia State would get contributions from everyone on the floor, as they would stun Shaw with an incredible 25-5 run over the next 10 minutes to take a strong hold on the game.

 

The Shaw Bears could not get a basket to fall, while the Trojans were red hot from both the outside and inside.

 

The Trojans would keep their foot on the gas, and at the half, took a 19 point lead into the locker room at halftime, 35-16.

 

Virginia State would not let up as the second half began, and through the first five minute stretch of the half, had increased their already large halftime lead to 23 points by the first media timeout.

 

Shaw would try to battle back, but he hot shooting Trojans continued to light up the Time Warner Cable Arena nets, and maintained the lead of at least 20 points by the next media timeout.

 

VSU was determined on this night, and their play showed as Shaw would be no match on the night. Virginia State held the biggest lead of the night at 28 points with 3:24 left to play (69-41), and would coast the rest of the way for the 69-47 upset win.

 

The Trojans outrebounded the Shaw Bears 49-37, and held the Bears to just 9% from the three point arc (1-11).

 

With the win Virginia State improves to 18-9 overall, while the Shaw Bears end their season at 19-10.

 

Virginia State was led in scoring by Dashae Jones, who finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Cana Marriott added 12 points and five rebounds, and Tiffanie Adair and Wynterra Pittman chipped in 10 points each.  Adair also pulled down six rebounds, while Pittman added eight rebounds, four steals, three blocked shots and two assists.

 

Shaw was led by 2014-15 CIAA Women's Player of the Year, Verdine Warner, who finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. Umeka Benson added nine points, six rebounds and three steals. Micah Brooks chipped in seven points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds.

 

The loss was the first for Shaw University in five years and two days, covering a 14-game span and four consecutive championships.

 

 

 

You have to give credit to Virginia State and their game plan.

 

The game was kind of like we expected. They can shoot the ball well, and our thing is to play zone. We hope to push them out and force them to take bad jump shots, but tonight they were hot and hit a lot of tough shots.

 

We had to get out of character. WE like to stay in zone. But they forced us to play some man, and that's not our thing. We just were never able to get the lead down enough to where we could get back to zone and sit in it.

 

We are Shaw women's basketball. They are going to keep their heads up. Losing one game in the tournament does not define who we are. We will be ready to come back next year and compete for another title.

 

We lost to a good team with a good game plan tonight. There is no need for us to hang our heads.