BALTIMORE, MD -- Tanayja London and Brittiney Seymour combined to score 39 total points - 66.1 percent of Shaw's points - in the Lady Bears 59-45 semifinal victory against the top seed Lincoln (PA) Lions in the CIAA Tournament at CFG Bank Arena Friday. 

The No. 6 seed Lady Bears will be aiming for their 11th CIAA crown, including nine under legendary Head Coach Jacques Curtis, against No. 5 Elizabeth City State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Shaw swept ECSU in two games during the regular season. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.

London led the Lady Bears (18-13) with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Seymour tacked on 16 points and six rebounds and Makenzie Pollard helped out with 14 points and three steals.

Seymour pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Shaw, grabbing 12 boards and turning them into eight second chance points.

The Shaw defense was a problem in Friday's game, forcing 23 Lincoln (PA) turnovers while committing 13. Those takeaways turned into 19 points on the other end of the floor. Pollard's three steals led the way individually for the Lady Bears, who stunned the Lions after losing twice to them during the regular season.

How It Happened

After playing to a 2-2 tie early in the game, Shaw went on an 8-0 run with 7:21 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Seymour, to take a 10-2 lead. The Lady Bears then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 14-8 advantage. Shaw relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 14 points.

Shaw kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 5:31 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from London, to increase its lead to 24-17. The Lions cut into that lead, but the Lady Bears still enjoyed a 28-22 advantage heading into halftime. Shaw forced six Lincoln (PA) turnovers in the period and turned them into seven points.

Shaw continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run to expand its lead further to 43-33 with 29 seconds to go in the third, a score which remained until the end of the third quarter. Shaw played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint.

Shaw kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 49-35 with 3:49 to go in the contest. The Lady Bears held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 59-45 win. Shaw took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 16 points in the paint.

Game Notes

» The Lady Bears held the Lions to only 30.5 percent shooting from the field.
» The Lady Bears never trailed after taking a 14-8 first quarter lead.
» Tanayja London, Brittiney Seymour, and Makenzie Pollard combined to account for 90 percent of the Lady Bears points.
» Shaw had a stellar day defensively, holding Lincoln (PA) to 13 percent from beyond the arc on 23 attempts.
» The Lady Bears forced 23 Lincoln (PA) turnovers while committing only 13 on the other end.
» The Shaw defense forced 23 turnovers.
» Shaw cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
» Tanayja London led the Lady Bears with a game-high 23 points.
» Shaw got a team-high eight rebounds from Tanayja London.
» Tanayja London was named Food Lion Game MVP.

Up Next
The Lady Bears face No. 5 seed Elizabeth City State in the CIAA championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.