By Frank Davis

Special to the News-Herald

It was quite a reverse from the 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament, when the No. 1-seeded Chowan University Lady Hawks went down in defeat in the opening round to the fifth-seeded Lincoln University Lady Lions 73–71.

In their opening round of play on Tuesday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C., the fifth-seeded Chowan Lady Hawks of the northern division of the CIAA defeated the St. Augustine’s Lady Falcons, the No. 4 seed of the southern division of the CIAA, with a score of 75-70.

In the first quarter of play, there were three ties and four lead changes, with the Lady Hawks leading 17-16 at the end of the quarter. Continuing play in the second quarter, the Lady Hawks exploded in scoring and at the 2:52 mark were up with their biggest lead with a score of 32-23.

The Lady Falcons continued to chip away at the lead and at the 1:09 mark went ahead with a score of 34-33. They continued to hold the lead until the end of the second quarter with a score of 38-33.

After the half in the third quarter of play, the Lady Hawks tied the score nine times and at the 1:10 mark the score was tied at 57. The Lady Falcons again went back ahead to end the quarter 60-59.

Going into the final quarter of play, early baskets by Danielle Weldon and Suffolk’s Chantel Roberts put the Lady Hawks ahead for the final time with a score of 65-62. The Lady Hawks fought back late runs by the Lady Falcons to claim the victory.

Mariah Coker and Danielle Weldon led in scoring with 17 points apiece, followed by Roberts with 11 points.