Raleigh, NC – The Shaw Lady Bears battled back from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit but couldn't get over the final hurdle as they fell to the Elizabeth City State Vikings 68-64 Saturday afternoon in a CIAA division matchup inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Shaw (5-9, 2-3 CIAA) finished the game shooting 39% from the floor including 22-33 from the charity stripe for 69 %. ECSU (11-2, 3-1 CIAA) was held to just 24-57 shooting from the floor but countered with 11 made three-point shots.

Tanayja London got the Lady Bears on the board first with two free throws and followed with a basket inside to score the first four points for Shaw. ECSU countered with back-to-back baskets to go ahead 10-4 with 6:50 remaining in the first period. The Vikings pushed ahead 16-6 with back-to-back three-point shots after the first media timeout. Shaw battled back to trim their deficit to 21-18 with a three from Ashley Rojas just before the quarter break.

Shaw grabbed a 24-21 lead with baskets from London and two free throws from Makenzie Pollard early in the second period. Pollard scored again inside making the score 27-21 in favor of the Lady Bears at the 4:48 media timeout. ECSU sliced the Lady Bears lead to 28-27 with just over three minutes left before the half. Rojas closed out the quarter again with a shot just before the buzzer putting Shaw ahead 36-32 at halftime.

Both teams got early baskets to start the second half with Shaw's lead being just one point 38-37 with 7:58 remaining in the third period. ECSU inched ahead 42-40 with a basket inside before London tied the score at 42-42 with a fast break layup. The Vikings reclaimed the lead 48-44 with back-to-back three-pointers out of the media timeout. The ECSU lead grew to 51-44 before a Rojas basket ended the Vikings run before another basket put the Vikings ahead 53-46 after three complete.

The Shaw deficit grew to double digits after another three from the Vikings. A drought from the Lady Bears put Shaw behind 63-48 before a basket from Pollard ended the threat. An 8-0 run by the Lady Bears trimmed the ECSU lead to 63-56. Truth Taylor added two free throws to make the score 63-59 with just over two minutes left in the game.

Another ECSU turnover led to a Jordan Strange layup and timeout with 1:27 remaining. ECSU answered with a three-point basket with under a minute left to go ahead 66-61. Pollard added a free throw four straight misses at the line for ECSU giving Shaw the possession with 16.9 left. Pillers added a jumper with 11.7 left making the score 66-64. ECSU added a pair at the line to make the score 68-64 with 6.3 on the clock. The Lady Beas came up empty on the next possession allowing ECSU to escape with the 68-64 win.

Pollard led the Shaw offense with 17 points followed by Rojas with 11 points. Every Lady Bear that touched the floor scored during the contest.

Shaw returns to the court Wednesday as they travel to Virginia State for another CIAA division matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm inside the VSU Multi-Purpose Center.