Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. – Guard Shanika Harris (Jr./Richmond, VA) came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points for Saint Augustine's University, but the Lady Falcons fell to Virginia Union University 95-82 in a CIAA women's basketball contest on the Harvey D. Heartley, Sr. Court at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, January 12, 2015.
The loss dropped the Lady Falcons to 2-3 in the CIAA and 8-6 overall. The Lady Panthers picked up their first conference win to improve to 1-4 in the CIAA and 5-9 overall.
Harris was 9 of 12 from the floor including 2 of 4 from the three-point arc to lead the Lady Falcons. She scored 16 points in the second half on 6 of 8 shooting and played 20 minutes overall. Her previous career-high was 16 points against Lander University on November 30, 2014. She has scored in double figures twice during her two-year career with the Lady Falcons.
Her shooting was the biggest highlight for the Lady Falcons in the defeat. The Lady Falcons led 7-0 and 21-12 in the first half, but the Lady Panthers never looked back after taking their second and final lead at 26-25.
The Lady Panthers increased their lead to 49-41 at halftime, and they pushed the margin to double digits in the second half despite hot shooting from Harris. The Lady Falcons trailed 89-69 late in the game before going on a late run for the final margin.
Ashley Freeman led six Virginia Union double-figure scorers with 22 points to become the school's all-time women's scoring leader. Lady Walker nearly pulled off a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and a school-record seven blocks. ShaHadah Barrett added 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Led by the inside play of Walker, Jasmin Dancy (11 points) and Taylor White (10 points off the bench), the Lady Panthers outscored the Lady Falcons 64-40 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 49-37. Overall, the Lady Panthers shot 57.1 percent including 66.7 percent in the second half.
The Lady Falcons made 40.5 percent of their shots. Led by Harris, they outscored the Lady Panthers 42-15 in bench points and forced 25 turnovers for 27 points.
After three home games in five days, the Lady Falcons hit the road for their first CIAA divisional game on Saturday, January 17. They take on Winston-Salem State University in the Gaines Center at 2 p.m.
