Box Score If AnnMarie Gilbert's coaching record at Virginia Union is an indication of any one thing, it's that the Panthers' women's basketball team isn't accustomed to losing streaks.

Through 91 games at the helm, Gilbert's teams have never lost back-to-back games. But across the past two seasons, Chowan has had Virginia Union's number to the tune of three straight victories coming into Saturday's matchup.

That streak came to an end Saturday afternoon as the resilient Panthers turned back a late comeback attempt from the Hawks to finish their regular season at Barco-Stevens Hall with a 58-56 win.

"I thought we had to stay a little closer to this team," Gilbert said of Chowan coming in.

"This is a very good team, a team that's capable of winning the CIAA tournament and a team that has had my number three straight times."

Virginia Union struggled early as Chowan carved out a 6-0 lead, but the Panthers were sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from freshman guard Shareka McNeill to take the lead, an edge that held until the fourth quarter.

And while it was McNeill that got the Panthers into the game, it was seldom-used guard Bria McKinney who set Barco-Stevens alight with her outside shooting with each successive make looking like it would be the shot to put the game out of reach.

"Even when (McKinney) doesn't play, she still comes in and shoots the ball. She was so ready tonight to shoot the ball because that's what she does," Gilbert said.

McKinney, a player Gilbert says routinely asks for extra time shooting, came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points in the contest, sharing the game high with Chowan's Mariah Coker.

"I try to stay as positive as I can," said McKinney, who averages just 6.6 minutes and 2.9 points.

"I know that hard work pays off, so I just continue to do what I have to do. I knew that one day (Gilbert) would be able to use me, and I guess it was today."

Though McKinney's final 3-pointer gave Union a 46-34 late in the third quarter, the lead wasn't safe. Trailing 56-55 with 28.8 seconds left to play, the Panthers had the ball with seemingly one last chance to win the game.

McNeill drove and drew a foul on Coker, who fouled out after giving the Hawks the lead just moments before on a 3-pointer. The freshman capped the possession with a free throw on the back end of a double bonus to tie the game at 56.

In need of a stop, the Panthers got it. Kishona Sutton came up with a loose ball at half court and was fouled, and then made both free throws.

With the win, VUU will take a five-game winning streak into the CIAA tournament, a benefit it didn't have last season as Chowan got its second win in the three-game streak in the regular-season finale.

And while they can finally savor a win against the Hawks, the Panthers plan to use the latest loss to them, an 85-79 loss on Feb. 3, as a compass to navigate the tough postseason.

"I think that that loss was necessary in order to lengthen our season because had we not had it, then maybe the pressure would knock us out next week," Gilbert said of the tournament, which starts Tuesday.

"But I think this was a CIAA (tournament) type of game, and they pulled through. My Lady Panthers are awesome.

"I'm really excited to see how far we can go."

VUU will enter the CIAA Tournament as the #1 seed in the Northern Division of the CIAA.  The Lady Panthers will begin play in the Tournament on Wednesday, February 28.  VUU's opponent and game time has yet to be determined by the CIAA.