The second-ranked Shaw women’s basketball team will begin play in the 2005 CIAA Tournament on Tuesday March 1 at 7:00 p.m., while the men’s team will begin play on Wednesday March 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the RBC Center.  The Lady Bears (26-1), the top ranked team in the east, have a first round bye and will take on the winner of 4W St. Augustine's Lady Falcons versus 5E Virginia State Lady Trojans.

The Bears (7-20), the fourth seed in the east, will take on the Livingstone Blue Bears, the fifth seed in the west at 9:00 p.m.  If the Bears win that game, they will take on Winston-Salem State, the top seed in the west who has a first round bye, on Thursday at 9:30 p.m.  The game will be aired on ESPN Classic.

The Lady Bears defeated St. Augustine's in the two teams only meeting of the season 80-71 on January 22 at and also defeated Virginia State twice this season 105-53 at Spaulding Gym on January 18 and 92-75 on February 22 in Petersburg, VA.

The Bears lost to Livingstone 51-49 on January 29 at Salisbury and lost to Winston-Salem State 76-72 on January 20 in Winston-Salem.

The Lady Bears won the 2004 CIAA Tournament defeating Virginia Union 90-65, while the Bears lost in the quarterfinals to Fayetteville State.