Richmond, VA - 17 first-half turnovers were too much to overcome as the Shaw University Lady Bears saw their three-game winning streak come to an end after falling to host Virginia Union University 78-70 inside Barco-Stevens Hall Saturday afternoon.

Both teams opened the contest trading turnovers before Tanayja London's three-point play would show for the only points on the board during the first two and a half minutes of action. London collected an offensive foul and put back to extend the Shaw (8-10, 5-4 CIAA) score to 5-0 with just over seven minutes left in the opening period. London stayed on her personal run with another three-point play putting Shaw ahead 8-0. Nyrobi Pillers became the first Lady Bear other than London to score making the score 10-5 at the 4:43 media timeout. The Lady Panthers kept things close with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 16-16 before taking a 17-16 lead into the quarter break.

The cold stretch for the Lady Bears continued as the VUU (5-10, 3-6 CIAA) lead grew to 24-18 with 7:52 left in the half. Back-to-back turnovers led to the VUU lead growing to 30-22 at the 4:10 media timeout. A steal and fast-break basket from Makenzie Pollard ended the run to slice the Lady Bears deficit to six. Shaw would be unable to cut into the deficit anymore as they trailed 34-28 at the half.

After going down by 10 early to start the third, the Lady Bears were able to cut the VUU lead to just two with a Washington drive and layup forcing a Lady Panthers timeout with 4:51 left in the quarter and Shaw trailing 42-40.  Jordan Strange tied the game at 46-46 with a three-point play at the 2:47 mark of the quarter. The score would be tied again at 51 before a three with nine seconds left gave VUU the 54-51 lead after three complete.

Each team scored out of the quarter break but a quick 4-0 VUU run allowed the Lady Panthers to go ahead 60-53 with 7:15 left in the game. The Shaw deficit grew to double digits following three free throws from VUU making the score 66-55 in favor of VUU. The Lady Bears made one late push but were unable to get their deficit to under eight seeing their winning streak come to an end.

London led the Lady Bears with a career-high 21 points. Washington and Pollard followed with 13 each to round out the double-figure scorers. Shaw finished 48% from the field including 89 percent from the free-throw line but were unable to overcome the 23 total turnovers.

Shaw finally returns home Wednesday, February 2, 2022, to face cross-town rival St. Augustine's University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.