CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Elizabeth City State squares off against Shaw University in the opening game of the 2019 CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament at 6 tonight in Bojangles Coliseum.
2019 CIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BRACKET (PDF)
2019 CIAA Tournament Website
The Vikings (13-15, CIAA 5-12, North Div. 2-8), who will be trying to snap out of a 7-game skid, have reason for optimism against the Bears (7-21, CIAA 2-16, South Div. 1-11). The winner advances in the heralded 13-team playoff.
Senior guard
Jalyn Brown knocked down eight of 11 shots from 3-point range on her way to a season-high 30 points in an 86-58 romp against the Shaw on December 13 in the Robert L. Vaughan Center. Junior forward
Naterria Luster finished with 21 points and nine rebounds while freshman guard
Asia Deal chipped in 16. Junior guard
DeNayia Holmes dished out a career-high 14 assists as ECSU shot 54% from the floor on the strength of a 13-for-23 performance from beyond the arc.
Luster enters the tournament averaging team highs of 16.9 points and 8.9 rebounds while Brown has run her career total to 1,354 points while averaging 14.5 this season. Deal, who has posted 80 assists, is scoring at a 12.8 clip while Holmes has distributed a team-high 121 assists. Junior forward
Devona Stell has been solid inside while averaging 9.0 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Shaw is led by junior center Macy Keen (16.1 ppg/10.8 rpg) and senior forward KlinTisha Martin (13.7 ppg/7.5 rpg).
The winner advances to face Winston-Salem State (15-13, CIAA 11-7, South Div. 8-4) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in Bojangles Coliseum.
