PETERSBURG, VA- BOX SCORE  The Chowan University women's basketball team dropped a 60-51 decision in CIAA Northern Division play on Wednesday evening against the Lady Trojans of Virginia State University.  Talaya Lynch netted 14 points in the contest, but it was not enough to overcome a second half surge by Virginia State. 
 
Danielle Coleman and Kaela Nelson finished the night scoring eight points each for the Hawks.  Janelle Murphy chipped in seven points in the loss and Summer Curtis collected 15 rebounds.
 
With the Hawks leading 24-17 with 3:03 left in the first half, lay-ups from Janelle Murphy and Kaela Nelson put Chowan ahead 28-17.  A three point bucket and a made free throw from Virginia State's Dashae Jones cut the Hawks' lead to seven heading into halftime. 
 
The Lady Trojans struck first after the intermission, using a 13-0 run to take a 34-28 lead with 16:28 left in the game.  Virginia State maintained control of the second stanza, leading by as many as 12 points at the 5:54 mark. 
 
The Hawks rallied to pull within two with just under 3:00 on the clock.  Jones' jumper for the Lady Trojans put Virginia State back in the driver's seat, giving them a 54-50 at with 2:14 to play in the contest.  A 6-0 run by the Lady Trojans in the last two minutes of the game allowed Virginia State to pull away with the 60-51 win.   
 
Dashae Jones led the way for Virginia State, leading all scorers in the game with 19 points.  Jasmine Stewart and Yashica Blakney also had double-digit outings for the Lady Trojans, scoring 13 and 10 points respectively.  Virginia State improves to 9-9 overall and 2-6 in the CIAA. 
 
Chowan slides to 2-14 overall and 2-6 in league play after Wednesday's loss.  The Hawks return to the Helms Center on Saturday, January 26^th to host the Bowie State Lady Bulldogs in a 2:00 pm tip-off.  They will remain at home for another CIAA Northern Division match-up against Lincoln University (PA) on January 30^th at 5:30pm.