RALEIGH -- In the first women's basketball matchup between Shaw and Johnson C. Smith this season, the Bears played zone and committed 22 turnovers. The Golden Bulls won 68-66 on a 3-pointer in the final seconds to give Shaw its first conference loss of the season.
In the second go-round Monday night, Shaw cut its turnovers by almost half (13) and played mostly man-to-man to run down the Golden Bulls 86-56. It was Johnson C. Smith's biggest loss since 2010.
Shaw coach Jacques Curtis also credits a tweaking of the starting lineup for putting his team over the top.
"We played zone (in the first game), which was kind of lazy, but I didn't think we matched up well with them," said Curtis whose team is now in sole possession of first place in the CIAA South. "Tonight, I switched Victoria Tanner for Shemieka Brown in the starting lineup, and that allowed us to play man."
Shaw led 38-27 at halftime behind sophomore Crystal Harris' 10 points and nine rebounds. Harris, who entered the game with 13 minutes left in the half and Shaw leading 15-12, scored eight of the Bears' next 11 points to help Shaw pull away. A 6-foot-1 center who didn't play in the first semester because of surgery, she was one of four Bears to finish in double figures, and one of two to record a double-double. Kyria Buford had 19 points and 17 rebounds.
"We knew we had to come out more intense," said Harris, who finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. "In the first game, we didn't play as intense but we know if we play good defense, our offense will come."
It was the defense that set the tone. J.C. Smith (17-5, 11-2) was held to 28.9 percent shooting for each half and 0-for-12 from 3-point range. Shaw (17-6, 12-1) also dominated the boards, outrebounding Smith 54-44, including 35-24 on offense.
After Harris led Shaw to a double-digit lead in the first half, senior center Aslea Williams helped the Bears keep it in the second. Williams scored 13 of her 16 points in the half to thwart any J.C. Smith rally.
"Crystal and Aslea give us that 1-2 punch in the middle that we need when it counts," Curtis said. " Our remaining three games (Fayetteville State, St. Augustine's and Winston-Salem State) are all good teams, and we still feel we haven't hit our stride yet for the (CIAA) tournament."
