Box Score Box Score ELIZABETH CITY, NC- An up and down type of night cost the Vikings their first conference loss to Broncos 56-67.

The Vikings drop to an overall 9-2 record, 2-1 in the CIAA.

ECSU shot 35.1 percent (20 of 57) from the field, 26.3 percent (5 of 19) from behind the arc, and 68.8 percent (11 of 16) at the line.
 
FSU shot 50 percent from the field (25 of 50), 50 percent (5 of 10) from behind the arc, and went 70.6  percent (12 of 17) at the line.

Senior guard Iya Holley-Reid (Norfolk, VA) and junior guard NyAsia Blango (Havelock, NC) paced the Vikings with 11 points each.

The Vikings were defensively led by senior forward Tirenique Broadwater (Rochester, NY) with nine boards, five blocks, and a steal. Broadwater was named CIAA Food Lion Defensive Player of the Week earlier today. She now leads the CIAA in blocked shots just ahead of teammate junior forward Sirenna Pitts (Raleigh, NC)

The Broncos were offensively led by Rasheka Simmons with 20 points, while Shenell Shaw Davis led FSU in rebounding with five.

ECSU experienced some early struggles in tonight's contest trailing FSU 19-6 at the end of the first. The Vikings entered tonight's game as the number one defense in the CIAA, but the Broncos held ECSU to only two field goals in the first quarter. 
 
Despite the rocky start, the Vikings got back to their style of play and turned things around in the second quarter outscoring FSU 23-4 to snatch a 29-23 lead heading into the locker room. 
 
What was the difference from that first to second quarter? The Vikings shot 60% from the field and out-rebounded FSU 13-2. 
 
Both teams came out the half energized. 
 
The start of the third qtr was a rollercoaster for ECSU as momentum swung back and forth between the Vikings and Broncos 
 
FSU took a 5-0 run after the game was tied at 37-all with 4:05 left before the final quarter. The Vikings trailed the Broncos by ten, heading into the fourth. 
 
ECSU continued to fight, but the Vikings could not claw their way back into the game, falling short to FSU 67-56

The Vikings will be back in action after the holiday break to take on West Virginia State University on the road in Institute, WV, on Monday, January 3^rd. Tip-off is slated for 2 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