Shaw Downs #22 Gannon 64-59 To Advance to NCAA Regional Final

EDINBORO, Pennsylvania – Aslea Williams had 22 points - 16 of them in the second half - to help Shaw down #22 Gannon 64-59 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament held at Edinboro University. With the win, the Lady Bears advance to the regional finals for the second straight year.

The win improves the second seeded Shaw's record to 25-6 while the Lady Knights fall to 22-7 as their season comes to an end.

The Lady Bears outshot Gannon, but only slightly, hitting 27 of their 60 shot attempts (45 percent). The Lady Knights hit 22 of 53 attempts (41.5 percent). Shaw held the advantage in rebounds, as well, pulling in 39 boards compared to Gannon's 34.

Shaw managed only one made shot from beyond the arc on six attempts while Gannon sank six of the 22 threes they attempted.

Early on, the game was close with two ties in the first six minutes of play. With 14:08 left in the first, Victoria Tanner found Crystal Harris under the basket for a short jumper that gave Shaw a 7-5 lead.

Gannon answered with a three from Brittany Batts to give the Lady Knights the only lead they would hold on the night.

Shaw scored ten straight , punctuated by a layup by Williams off a pass from Sequoyah Griffin to give the Lady Bears a 17-8 lead with 8:55 left in the first.

Ninety seconds later, the Bears extended the lead to 12, but the Lady Knights battled back, eventually trimming the lead to two when Kelsey McCoy hit a three to make the score 24-22 in favor of Shaw.

The Lady Bears scored the final four points in the half to take a 30-24 lead into the half.

Box Score

READ MORE