MURFREESBORO – Chowan chipped away at a 19-point deficit with 17 minutes to play in the second half to slip by Virginia Wesleyan, 55-53, here Wednesday night in an NCAA Division III women’s basketball game.

The Braves cut the lead to nine points with six minutes to go in the game on back-to-back buckets by junior forward Tawana Tucker. Kara Jackson made good on two free throws after a foul on the Marlins next possession to make the score 50-43 with just over three minutes to play in the game. After a defensive stop by the Braves on the Marlins next possession, Jackson drained a three pointer to bring the Braves within four points of the Marlins lead.

After a Tucker steal, Joi Hazel was sent to the line on a fast break foul where she hit both shots to bring the Braves within two points. The Marlins drove down the court, only to put up a three that was no good. Jackson hit Hazel on the fast break for an easy lay up to tie the game at 50-50 with 1:27 to go. The Marlins once again failed to convert on their next possessio,n allowing the Braves to get up 52-50 on another fast break lay up from Hazel.

The Marlins weren’t done as Elise Conway hit a three pointer to get the Marlin lead back 53-52 with 37 seconds to play. Hazel was fouled after a shot attempt in the paint and sent to the line where she hit both charity shots to take the lead 54-53. After two failed attempts by the Marlins to score on the other end of the court, they were forced to foul. Mary Tolson hit one of two foul shots with three seconds to play to ice the game for Chowan, 55-53.

The Braves shot 36% from the floor and grabbed 42 total rebounds while the Marlins hit 30% from the field and out rebounded the Braves with 48 boards.

For Chowan, Hazel led the way with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Tolson had a career night with 11 points and 9 rebounds while Tucker had 8 points to go with 11 rebounds and 2 steals. Kara Jackson added 6 points, 7 assists and 5 steals in the win.

For VWC, Erin Voskeritchian had 13 points and 6 rebounds.

The Braves improve to 6-1 on the year while the Marlins fall to 3-3 overall. Chowan will wrap up the 2004 portion of their schedule on the road at the Keystone College Tournament, December 17-18.