MURFREESBORO, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2019) – Junior forward
Naterria Luster and senior guard
Jalyn Brown combined for 35 points and Elizabeth City State used stifling defense to forge a 58-47 CIAA win over Chowan in the Helms Center.
The Vikings (12-7, CIAA 5-4, North Div. 1-0) generated 21 points off 28 Hawk turnovers to win for the fifth time in their last seven games and snap a 2-game losing skid. It marked the four time this season that ECSU has held an opponent under 50 points.
Luster scored a game-high 18 points with six rebounds and three steals to help the Vikings total a dozen steals. She connected on seven of 12 shots from the floor to be the only ECSU player to shoot over 50% on an afternoon when the Vikings made just 32.3% (20-62) of their attempts.
Brown, who played all 40 minutes, netted 14 points of her 17 points in the first half when ECSU constructed a 32-22 lead. Her fastbreak layup on a feed from freshman guard
Asia Deal with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter gave the Vikings their largest lead of the game a 32-19.
The Hawks (10-7, CIAA 6-2, North Div. 0-1) got no closer than seven points in the third quarter before the Vikings enjoyed a double-digit lead throughout the final period.
Deal finished with 11 points, three steals and three assists while junior guard
DeNayia Holmes contributed nine points while tying Luster for the team lead in rebounds with six and Deal for the team high in assists with four.
Junior guard Mariah Coker was the only Chowan player in double digits with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Senior guard Jordan Pettaway and freshman guard Brianna Copeland netted eight points apiece for the Hawks while senior forward Danielle Weldon had a game-high seven rebounds to help Chowan win the rebounding battle, 43-40.
ECSU is at Lincoln on Wednesday for a CIAA twinbill. The women's game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:30. The Lion women (10-9, CIAA 4-4) pulled the league upset of the season on Saturday, toppling Bowie State (15-2, CIAA 7-1) in Maryland.
