Shaw Builds Early Lead, Cruises to 71-59 Win Over West Virginia State

Sherri Fillingham (Elizabeth City, NC)- Shaw’s women’s basketball team opened its season with a convincing 71-59 win over West Virginia State in a game played as part of the CIAA-WVIAC (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Challenge. The Lady Bears built a double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game, and while the Yellow Jackets made a run at Shaw in the second period, they never cut the deficit to less than eight. Both teams showed signs of early season sloppiness with a combined 46 turnovers (24 for WVSU and 22 for Shaw) and 46 personal fouls (25 for WVSU and 21 for Shaw). The Lady Bears built the early lead on the shooting of Kyria Buford, who had 11 points in the first seven minutes of play. She finished the game with 24 points and came one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Aslea Williams had 16 points for the Lady Bears as well as six rebounds. Brittany Ransom had 14 points. Brittney Spencer led the Lady Bears with five assists. Chelsey Davis had 20 points for the Yellow Jackets, Melissa Ford had 13 and Dusti Chapman had 10. Davis led WVSU with 12 rebounds. The Lady Bears return to action tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. when they take on Glenville State during the second day of the CIAA-WVIAC Challenge. The Challenge brings together four teams from the CIAA and four from the WVIAC. CIAA teams participating include host Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, and Virginia Union. In addition to WVSU and Glenville, Davis and Elkins and West Liberty are representing the WVIAC. For more information on the Challenge, go to www.ecsuvikings.com and for more information on Shaw sports, go to www.shawbears.com.