Box Score ELIZABETH CITY, NC- Vikings Improve to a 2-0 conference record after tonight's 78-70 win over the Falcons of St. Augustine's University 
 
The Vikings improve to a 9-1 overall record, 2-0 in the CIAA. The Vikings await Monday's night matchup against the Broncos of Fayetteville State University to take a stab at going 3-0 in conference play before ECSU steps into 2022.

ECSU shot 46.2 percent (24 of 52) from the field, 33.3  percent (4 of 12) from behind the arc, and 70.3 percent (26 of 37) at the line.
 
SAU shot 40.9 percent from the field (27 of 66), 31.3 percent (5 of 16) from behind the arc, and went 100 percent (11 of 11) at the line.
 
The Vikings were offensively fueled by Senior guard Felicia Jackson (Gainesville, FL) with 16 points, while fellow senior guard Iya Holley-Reid (Norfolk, VA) followed up with 12 points. The senior forward duo of Naterria Luster (Richmond, VA) and Tirenique Broadwater (Rochester, NY) each recorded 10 points to round out the double-digit scoring for ECSU. 

Luster led the Vikings rebounding efforts with eight boards on the night. ECSU won the battle of the boards outrebounding  SAU 39-30.

The Falcons were led by Ariyanna Brown and Jada Swafford with 14 points each. 

Both teams turned the ball over quite a bit tonight, but the Vikings took fewer shots. More importanly ECSU was able to knock them down when it mattered most, especially in the second stanza.
 
SAU jumped out in front of the Vikings to claim an early 6-2 lead, and by the 2:20 mark, the Falcons led ECSU 13-6. The Falcons won the first quarter outscoring ECSU 18-13.

Despite the rocky start, the Vikings understood the assignment and came out looking to attack and create some open looks for a number of players throughout the second quarter. 

ECSU swung the momentum into the Vikings favor on the very first possession as sophomore guard NyAsia Blango (Havelock, NC) nailed a three-pointer. The Vikings tied the game with 8:19 left on the game clock until halftime before taking control of the lead at the line as Luster completed the three-point play. 

Both teams exchanged baskets as the final moments of the half became a battle, but ECSU managed to take a 39-37 edge over SAU into the half. 

ECSU put together a 7-0 run to start the third quarter, but the game was far from over. The Falcons responded and cut the Vikings lead to a single point trailing ECSU 51-50 after a three-pointer from Brown with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.

The Vikings ended the third quarter with six unanswered points taking a 57-50 lead into the fourth. 

Luster hit a jumper to open up the scoring in the final stanza, making it an 8-0 ECSU run. However, every time the Vikings seemed to be in control of the game, SAU quietly crept back into it. With just over five mins left in regulation, the Vikings found themselves back in a one-possession game. 

Despite the up and down, the Vikings were able to pull away and claim their largest lead of the game with 1:55 left to play after a made jumper from sophomore guard Naomi Lockamy (Wake Forest, NC), giving ECSU an 11-point cushion up 70-59.

The Vikings secured the 78-70 win at the charity line, with Jackson going two of two.

The Vikings will be back in action on Monday, December 20th^, against the Broncos of Fayetteville State University in the R.L. Vaughan Center. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 PM.
 
Follow Elizabeth City State Athletics via its official website at www.ecsuvikings.com to get pre-and post-game stories and updates.
 
ECSU Athletics is also on social media, follow us on Twitter at @ECSUVikings and Instagram at @ecsusports