RALEIGH, N.C. – Brittany Torain (Jr./Warner Robins, Ga.) of Saint Augustine's College led a furious second-half rally, but Chowan survived 79-75 Monday on Martin Luther King Day to give the Lady Falcons their first CIAA loss of the season.

The Hawks (2-3 CIAA, 5-8 overall), dressing eight players, pulled out the win at the free throw line, where they made 37 of 53 free throws for 70 percent. They swished 27 of 36 free throws for 75 percent in the second half to stop a late run by the Lady Falcons (10-5, 4-1 CIAA).

Ransheda Jennings and Talaya Lynch hurt the Lady Falcons the most at the charity stripe. Jennings was 18-of-23 at the free throw line for a game-high 28 points. Lynch made 9 of 11 free throws for 21 points.

Both players were clutch in the second half. Jennings made 13-of-17 free throws and Lynch was 7-of 8. The Hawks needed every free throw because the Lady Falcons were gaining ground rapidly after falling behind 54-34 with 14 minutes left in the game.

Torain, named CIAA newcomer of the week Monday, scored all 15 of her points in the second half including 13 during a 39-21 Lady Falcon run. Crystal McCaffity (Sr./Havelock, N.C.) capped the rally with a three-point play which ignited the crowd and got the Lady Falcons within 75-73 with 55 seconds left. Jennings and Lynch of the Hawks responded by combining on 4-of-6 free throws to escape out of Emery Gymnasium with the win.

Allison Sikes (Sr./Richmond, Va.), named CIAA player of the week earlier in the day, tied Torain for team-high scoring honors with 15 points. The Lady Falcons sorely missed Keyona Bryant, who sat out the contest with an injury, but they got tremendous production from several players including subs McCaffity and Umeka Benson (Fr./Charlotte, N.C.) and starter Scharlawn Hubbard (Soph./Akron, Ohio). All three players helped Torain key the second-half run for the Lady Falcons, whose bench outscored the Hawks' reserves 32-9 for the game.

McCaffity finished with 12 points and Benson had 10 points while Hubbard had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Sikes added eight rebounds and Benson and Le'Keisha White collected seven rebounds each for the Lady Falcons, who won the rebounding battle 54-36.

Brittany Nicholson scored 11 points for the Hawks, who made as many free throws as the Lady Falcons attempted. The Falcons were 22-of-37 from the free throw line.

The Lady Falcons visit Elizabeth City State on Thursday in a CIAA game starting at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks travel to Bowie State on Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.

Monday's game was designated as Share Our Shoes Night. Coaches from both teams did not wear shoes on the sidelines in support of the Haiti earthquake victims. Fans donated shoes which will be sent to Haiti. The Lady Falcons' women's team collaborated with the Saint Augustine's College men's basketball team, the North Carolina Central men's basketball team and the Share Our Shoes charity organization. The goal is to send 1 million pair of shoes to Haiti.