Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MURFREESBORO – Despite a late surge by their rivals, Chowan used two free throws each by Reagan Wilson and Destiny Robinson inside the game’s final seconds as the Hawks held on for a 63-60 win over Elizabeth City Statein non-conference women’s basketball action here Saturday afternoon.

Five Hawks registered double-digit scoring led by Keibra Hopkins with 14 points. Robinson collected her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Demetria Bland added 12 points while Aniah Patterson and Jayah King-Johnson chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Chowan led 39-21 at the intermission, but shot 27.3% from the floor and had 18 turnovers in the second half allowing ECSU to find a way back into the contest.

Sparked by two lay-ups and a three-pointer by Hopkins plus a pair of Robinson baskets, Chowan raced out to a 16-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Hawks led 23-12 by the end of the first quarter.

The Hawks extended that advantage to 36-14 thanks to a 13-2 run to start the second quarter. Patterson led that offensive surge with a deuce and a trey while King-Johnson posted a pair of buckets and added another solo point from the charity stripe.

Hopkins started the scoring in the second half with a three-point play and King-Johnson added a layup before the Vikings went on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 46-33. Aniah Patterson ended the run with a triple along with a layup by Imani Hickman to lead 51-37 at the end of the quarter.

Elizabeth City State went on a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to four, 51-47, with 7:04 remaining and eventually took the lead at 57-56.

Bland connected from the floor with a jumper to hand the lead back to the Hawks, but the Vikings answered on their next possession. Bland went 1-2 from the stripe to even the score at 59-all with 1:33 remaining.

A pair of Viking turnovers led to a pair of freebies by Wilson that handed the lead back to the Hawks at 61-59. ECSU had a chance to even the score again with 10 seconds remaining, but hit only one of two free throws.

An offensive rebound after a pair of missed free throws by the Hawks helped Robinson add a pair from the stripe to push the advantage to 63-60.

ECSU’s last possession would end with a partially blocked shot by Robinson to seal the victory.

Chowan (3-1 overall) opens up Conference Carolinas play on Tuesday, Nov. 22 as the Hawks travel to Florence, SC to take on Francis Marion.