The season has ended for the Lady Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University.

The JCSU basketball team lost to Shaw University 74-54 Monday in the championship round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament in Edinboro, Pa.

Less than two weeks ago, JCSU lost to Show in the title game of the CIAA tournament in Charlotte.

“We’ve had a good season, even though it didn’t end the way we would have liked,” JCSU head coach Vanessa Taylor said after the Monday game. “Sometimes you give your best and it isn’t good enough, but we have certainly learned more from this experience and will apply these lessons as we prepare for next season.”

With Monday’s victory, Shaw advances to the Division II “Elite Eight.”

Despite having the best record in the CIAA and entering the Division II regional tournament as the No. 2 seed, JCSU was unable to dispatch with Shaw, a team they swept in the regular season. Each time JCSU pulled close, Shaw responded with a scoring run.

After JCSU scored the game’s first four points, Shaw went on an 18-2 run and would retain a double-digit lead through much of the first half.

As the second half began, JCSU tied the game 30-30, but again Shaw responded, this time with seven unanswered points. The Lady Golden Bulls fought back to 50-46, but Shaw went on a 14-4 tear over the next seven minutes.

With 5:30 left to play, JCSU trailed 64-50, but they scored only two field goals for the remainder of the game.

JCSU ended the season with a record of 26-5, the most victories ever for the women’s program, and Taylor was named CIAA coach of the year.

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This report is based on the work of Johnson C. Smith University Sports Information Director Lamont Hinson.

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