INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University was narrowly defeated by Elizabeth City State, 103-98, in a non-conference matchup at the Walker Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Charity Shears broke her own school record by making nine three-point attempts in a game. She set the old record on the same date, against the same team, last year when she drained eight shots from behind the arc.

The Yellow Jackets drop to 4-8 overall with the loss and remain at 2-4 in the Mountain East Conference. Meanwhile, the Vikings improve to 6-7 on the season with the win and stay at 2-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Along with setting a new school record, Charity Shears led all players in scoring with a career-high 34 points. Freshman Alexis Hall was also at the top of her game as she achieved a double-double for the first time in her career. She scored 21 points and grabbed a season-high 10 boards in order to do so. Fellow freshman Destiny Fields recorded 13 points and eight rebounds to round out the top performers for West Virginia State.

Elizabeth City State jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first four minutes of the contest. WVSU then spent the next six minutes trying to close that gap. Alexis Hall scored 14 points in the latter part of the first quarter to bring the Yellow Jackets back within three points, 29-26.

After WVSU shook off its opening period cobwebs, the second period turned into a tight-knit battle. After the first minute, neither team was able to go up by more than three points. Destiny Fields grabbed an offensive rebound and made a layup in the closing seconds of the first half to give West Virginia State a one-point advantage at the break, 48-47.

ECSU went on a 12-1 run in the opening five minutes of the second half to create some separation. The Vikings led by nine points, 62-53, at the end of the run. In the last five minutes of the third period, the Yellow Jackets hit 8-of-8 three-pointers on a 24-11 run to reclaim the lead. Charity Shears hit five shots from downtown during that stretch. Going into the fourth quarter, West Virginia State led by two points, 77-75.

With two minutes left in the game, the score was deadlocked at 91 apiece. Elizabeth City State's Asia Deal made a critical three-pointer in the final minute to put her team up by three points, 96-93. After missing their shots on the ensuing possession, the Yellow Jackets had to resort to fouling in order to have a chance at forcing the game into overtime. The Vikings made 7-of-8 free-throw attempts to ensure that didn't happen.

Free-throw shooting was the determining factor in the game. ECSU shot 82 percent from the charity stripe compared to 52 percent by WVSU. On the plus side, West Virginia State won the turnover battle. The Yellow Jackets forced 23 turnovers by their opponents and only turned the ball over 13 times themselves.

West Virginia State will return to MEC-action on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against Davis & Elkins at the Walker Convocation Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.