Raleigh, NC – The Shaw University Lady Bears made it interesting late but did just enough to slip past the Claflin University Lady Panthers 65-62 Saturday Morning inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium picking up their first CIAA win on the season.

Shaw improves to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in CIAA action while Claflin falls to 1-9 overall and 0-2 in CIAA play.

First Quarter

Shaw jumped out to an early 5-0 start in the first two minutes.  Shaw maintained a four-point lead midway through the first quarter before Claflin tied the game at 12 with 1:55 remaining. Shaw closed the period on a 6-2 run to pull ahead 18-14 at the quarter break.

Second Quarter

The Lady Bears started the second quarter on a mission extending their lead to 24-16 with 7:32 remaining forcing a Lady Panthers timeout.  Shaw's lead grew to 28-16 with six minutes left before halftime. Claflin trimmed the Shaw lead to 32-26 with two minutes left on the clock due to a Shaw drought before Makenzie Pollard answered with a three-point basket.  A late defensive stand from Shaw sent the Lady Bears into the half ahead 37-30.

Third Quarter

Like the first quarter, Shaw opened with a 5-0 run to make the score 42-30 in favor of the Lady Bears. Tanayja London added a pair of free throws to make the score 44-33 with just over seven minutes left in the quarter. Jordan Strange added a three to push the Shaw lead to 49-33.  Back-to-back three-pointers from Claflin trimmed the Shaw lead to 51-39 with 3:25 left. Another Shaw drought allowed Claflin to further trim the Lady Bears lead to six before Pollard stopped the run with a layup making the score 53-45 at the end of the third.

Fourth Quarter

Shaw held a 56-47 lead with 7:45 remaining in regulation before both teams traded baskets putting Shaw ahead 60-52 with 6:24 left. The Lady Panthers scored out of the media timeout to cut the Shaw lead to 62-57. Claflin tied the game at 62 all with a three-pointer with just over three minutes left. Truth Taylor put Shaw ahead 63-62 splitting a pair at the line. With 33.2 left on the clock, the Bears forced a shot clock violation. Claflin fouled with 17.4 on the clock sending Jordan Strange to the free-throw line. She made both extending the Shaw lead to 65-62. Claflin would get two final shots to tie but both were off the mark sending the Lady Bears to their first conference win.

Pollard led the Lady Bears with 17 points. Strange followed with a season-high 13 points. Claflin's Janelle Sample led all scorers with 19 points in reserve duty.

Shaw has a quick turnaround as they head to Florida for two games before Christmas first taking on Palm Beach Atlantic Sunday, December 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.