Chowan wrote a new chapter in its women's basketball history at the CIAA tournament.

The Hawks recovered from a 19-point deficit to beat Livingstone 56-53 in a first-round game at Time Warner Cable Arena, the program's first tournament win since joining the CIAA last year. Chowan (15-12) didn't panic after falling behind, calling on previous experience to climb ahead.

"For us it was another challenge on the road," Hawks coach Pat Mashuda said. "We were in this situation earlier this year playing Bowie at home when we were down 20 with four minutes to play and came back to win that game. Having this experience from before, unfortunately then but fortunately as well, helped us today."

The No.4 seed Hawks, who lost a tiebreaker for the North Division's top spot, were led by Talaya Lynch, who scored a game-high 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Ransheda Jennings added 13 points and five assists for Chowan, which will face South Division winner Johnson C. Smith at 9 p.m. today.

Jasmine Murray paced fifth-seeded Livingstone (16-10) with 13 points, and Rashida Elbourne and Brittany Wright chipped in 10 each.

After struggling to 7-of-25 (28 percent) from the field in the first half, Chowan improved to 39.1 percent in the second, helped by 4-of-8 from beyond the arc to catch Livingstone. Najah Harris scored eight of her 11 points in the second half, including two 3-pointers that put the Hawks in front.

"As a senior point guard, I definitely had to be the one," she said. "My teammates picked it up; we won the ball game from there."

Livingstone was on the verge of a blowout at the break, connecting on 42.9 percent of its shots, but the Blue Bears faltered down the stretch and Chowan jumped on its opportunities.

"Chowan did a good job doing what they do well - drive the ball and kick it," Livingstone coach Angelyne Brown said. We got away from what got us here, we got away from what got us a 19-point lead."

"We had great energy in the locker room, we had a very calm understanding of what we needed to do in the second half," Mashuda said. "Our team just came out and executed and fought through the challenges of the first game of the tournament."

OTHER GAMES

ST. AUGUSTINE'S 69, VIRGINIA UNION 53: Crystal McCaffity scored 14 points with 5-for-6 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, as St. Augustine's won. Umeka Benson, the CIAA Rookie of the Year who was playing in her hometown, added 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The victory sends the Falcons (18-10), the No.4 Southern Division seed, to today's quarterfinal round against Elizabeth City State, the top Northern Division seed, at 7p.m.

Tiffany Clarke had 15 points and Alaura Jones 12 for the Panthers (3-23), the No.5 Northern Division seed.

VIRGINIA STATE 65, FAYETTEVILLE STATE 44: Rhon'Neisha Taylor had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Morgan McGill and Nia Thompson scored 12 each for Virginia State (18-8), which will play the winner of Monday's game between Shaw and Lincoln (Pa.).

Virginia State was the third seed from the Northern Division. Fayetteville State was No.6 from the Southern.

LaQuasha Jordan led the Broncos State (6-21) with 11 points.