RALEIGH, NC -- Seniors Brittiney Seymour, Makenzie Pollard and Tanayja London combined to score 54 of Shaw's 69 total points as the Lady Bears beat the Virginia Union Lady Panthers 69-58 on Senior Night at historic C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium Wednesday.
The Lady Bears (14-13, 7-8 CIAA) had three players score in double figures, led by Seymour, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Pollard tacked on 18 points and two steals and London helped out with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Shaw out-rebounded Virginia Union 37-28 in Wednesday's game, led by Seymour's 12 boards.
The Shaw defense was a problem in Wednesday's game, forcing 21 Virginia Union turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 21 points on the other end of the floor. Seymour's three steals led the way individually for the Lady Bears.
How It Happened
After falling behind 15-8, Shaw went on a 5-0 run with 1:26 left in the first quarter to narrow its deficit to 15-13. The Lady Bears deficit remained the same as they entered the second quarter trailing 17-15.
Virginia Union kept adding to that lead, building a 30-24 advantage before Shaw went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Desire Short, to take a 34-30 lead. The Lady Panthers cut into that lead, but the Lady Bears still enjoyed a 34-33 advantage heading into halftime. Shaw forced eight Virginia Union turnovers in the period and turned them into nine points.
Following intermission, Shaw continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 43-41 before going on a 5-0 run to expand its lead further to 48-41 with 57 seconds to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lady Panthers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Lady Bears still entered the fourth quarter with a 48-43 edge. Shaw took advantage of five Virginia Union turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of takeaways.
Shaw kept widening that lead, expanding it to 58-49 before going on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 64-49 with 4:26 to go in the contest. The Lady Panthers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Lady Bears still cruised the rest of the way for the 69-58 win.
Game Notes
» Brittiney Seymour notched a double-double for the Lady Bears with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
» The Lady Bears held the Lady Panthers to only 37.9 percent shooting from the field.
» Shaw never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Brittiney Seymour, Makenzie Pollard, and Tanayja London combined to account for 78 percent of the Lady Bears points.
» Shaw had a 37-28 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Shaw defense forced 21 turnovers.
» After the contest, Seymour, London, Pollard were honored on Senior Night.
