CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The #6 seeded Elizabeth City State University women's basketball team used a big rally in the second quarter to take control of the game as they cruised to a 65-49 CIAA Tournament win over #3 seed Winston Salem State University  Tuesday afternoon at Bojangles coliseum

The Vikings (13-15) will advance to play Bowie State University, the #2 seed in the North on Thursday at the Spectrum Center.  Winston Salem State finishes their season with a 15-13 mark.

ECSU received a huge game from Devona Stell  as she led all players with 19 points (7-12 FG), 21 rebounds and seven blocked shots on the afternoon.  Naterria Luster also had a big game with 14 points and 14 rebounds.  Jalyn Brown added 12 points and six assists.

Amaya Tucker was the lone Rams' player in double figures with 11 points.  Laichelle Sparrow grabbed 13 rebounds.

The Rams were on fire in the first minute of play, scoring the game's first ten points before a three-point basket by Asia Deal broke the string.  Teara Johnson's two baskets in a nine second span highlighted Winston-Salem's opening surge.  Deal's bucket triggered an 18-5 uprising by the Vikings to grab the lead for the first time in the contest.

Carrying a three point lead into the second quarter the Vikings scored the first six points as Luster connected on two layups and Stell added a short jumper, extending the ECSU run to 24-5 and their lead to 24-15 with 8:27 left.   

WSSU's Amaya Tucker broke the run with a layup a minute later.  Stell's traditional three point play at the 4:53 mark pushed the Viking lead to ten, 29-19. Stell added three more points on a free throw and then another layup giving the Vikings their biggest lead of the half 32-19.  Laichelle Sparrow's basket with 1:47 left cut the lead to 32-21 and rounded out the scoring for the half. 

Winston Salem State cut the ECSU lead to eight three times in the third quarter  before the Vikings pushed the lead back to double figures where it would stay for the rest of the game.

The Vikings scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to produce their biggest lead of the game, 52-34 at the 7:20 mark.  The Rams would come no closer than 14 points until the finals 30 seconds of action.  Tucker scored five points in the final 30 seconds to make the final margin 11 points.