Box Score PHOTO GALLERY | CHARLOTTE, NC-  The Virginia Union University Lady Panthers clinched a spot in the CIAA Tournament Semifinals with an 84-68 win over the Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls on Wednesday evening.  Virginia Union entered the contest as the No. 1 team out of the CIAA Northern Division with Johnson C. Smith as the No. 4 seed out of the Southern Division.  The Lady Panthers advance to semifinal action for the first time since the 2012-13 season with the victory. 

AnnMarie Gilbert, Head Coach at Virginia Union University noted "I'm just really proud of our effort coming off of a tough Chowan game heading into this tournament…We got off to a slow start against a strong, physical and well-coached team…while this was not our best game I'm really proud of our effort today."

Johnson C. Smith Head Coach Stephen Joyner Jr. added, "We got outplayed.  I think we had a great game plan heading into the contest.  At some point in the second quarter they went on a run, which we knew they were going to do, but we hung our heads and couldn't recover. It was evident that they wanted it more tonight.  They are a great ball club and are well-coached…I thought our kids could have played harder.  That's on me as a head coach."

Kiana Johnson led all players in the contest with 28 points for Virginia Union including 19-20 free throws.  Lady Walker added 25 points and 13 rebounds (six offensive, seven defensive) while Rahni Bell notched 20 points for the Lady Panthers.  Taylor White grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds (six offensive, 12 defensive).

Ashley Porter tallied 17 points for Johnson C. Smith in the setback while Asha Jordan and Amena Brent added 14 points and 10 points, respectively.  Larryqua Hall hauled in 13 rebounds (four offensive, nine defensive).

Jordan nailed a three-pointer and added a jump shot for the Golden Bulls to give Johnson C. Smith a quick 5-0 edge two minutes into the contest.  A jumper by Walker followed by A'Diyah Ussery's three-pointer left Virginia Union trailing 8-2 with 7:25 on the clock in the first quarter.  With the Golden Bulls holding a 10-4 lead, Krista White's jumper pushed the Golden Bulls ahead 12-4 by the 5:37 mark. Virginia Union and Johnson C. Smith exchanged baskets until Jordan's three-pointer with 1:19 on the clock handed the Lady Panthers a 20-11 deficit.

Johnson netted two free throws and hit a layup for Virginia Union before Jordan's layup at the end of the first quarter gave the Golden Bulls a 22-15 lead after the first ten minutes of play. A jumper and free throw by White resulted in a 25-15 advantage for the Golden Bulls at the 9:02 mark.  Rahni Bell cut the deficit after draining a three-pointer for the Lady Panthers but White responded with a three-pointer of her own for Johnson C. Smith.  With the Golden Bulls holding a 28-18 lead at the midway point of the second quarter, Walker's jumper for the Lady Panthers sparked a 10-0 run for Virginia Union.  After a Golden Bull timeout, Johnson drained a three-pointer for Virginia Union, handing the Lady Panthers a 31-28 advantage.

Ashley Porter ended the scoring drought for Johnson C. Smith with a jumper with 1:31 on the clock but White's bucket for Virginia Union gave the Lady Panthers all they would need to take a 33-30 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.

Bell drilled a three-pointer to open the third quarter with the momentum in favor of Virginia Union.  Porter answered with a bucket for the Golden Bulls before a jumper by Walker and free throw pushed Virginia Union ahead 39-34 by the 7:33 mark.  With the Lady Panthers holding a 41-36 edge with 3:40 on the clock, Bell hit a three-pointer and added a jumper to leave the Golden Bulls trailing 46-36. With 2:25 on the clock in the third quarter and Virginia Union leading 48-38, two made free throws by Maryanna Moore followed by a bucket by Quinesha Lynch cut the deficit to six points (48-42).  Virginia Union refused to back down and carried a 52-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

The Lady Panthers opened the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run to leave the Golden Bulls trailing 57-44.  A three-point play by Porter for Johnson C. Smith put the Golden Bulls on the board before Walker's jumper gave Virginia Union a 59-47 advantage.  With 7:27 left in the game and the score 59-49, two free throws by Johnson followed by Walker's layup extended the Lady Panthers' lead to 62-49 by the 6:15 mark.  Johnson's three-pointer with 4:35 left in the game gave Virginia Union a 71-56 cushion. 

The Lady Panthers maintained a lead of 13 points or more for the remainder of the contest before securing the 84-68 victory over the Golden Bulls. 

Johnson C. Smith's season comes to an end with a 17-12 overall record.  Virginia Union advances to semifinal action with the victory and carries a 23-2 record into the contest.  The Lady Panthers will face Livingstone College on Friday at 3:00pm.