Sunday, December 1, 2013

Late First Half Surge Pushes NCCU Lady Eagles to Third-Straight Win

SPARTANBURG, South  Carolina – A late first half surge pushed the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team past the Wofford College Terriers, giving the Lady Eagles their third-straight win, with a 53-44 road victory on Saturday, Nov. 30, in Spartanburg, S.C.

Senior Jessica Freeman (Charlotte, N.C.) led NCCU for the fifth time this season earning a game-high 16 points, on 4-of-12 shooting from the field, 2-of-4 from behind the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line while also collected a season-best five steals.

Sophomore Tisha Dixon (Kinston, N.C.) earned her first double-figure rebounding outing of the season pulling down a season-best 10 boards in addition to junior Khyra Conerly's (Oakland, Calif.) second half, 13 point effort.

Wofford was led offensively by Logan Morris who collected 13 points for the Terriers.



WC's Morris opened up the contest with a made basket from three-point range before the Terriers went on a 10-4 run in the first four minutes of action.

Another three ball from Morris at the 13:40 mark gave Wofford its largest lead of the game as the Terriers led the Lady Eagles 13-5.

Two made free throws from rookie Alexus Hynes (Houston, Texas) ended NCCU's five minute scoring drought with 11:26 left in the first frame, pushing them to 10-2 run as a three from freshman Morgan Jones (Stockbrige, Ga.) tied the contest at 15.

The Lady Eagles took their first lead of the game at the 5:01 mark after Jones knocked down back-to-back shots from behind the arc.

After taking the lead, NCCU never trailed again, taking a 23-17 advantage into the locker room at the half.

Starting the second half the Lady Eagles pushed a 9-2 run rallied by Freeman and Conerly, as NCCU saw its biggest lead of 13 with 16:49 left in the game.

The Lady Eagles hit a slump late in the contest not scoring for nearly five minutes as Wofford battled back brining the game within three with 1:34 left on the game clock.

In the closing minute of the game Conerly and Freeman combined for a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line closing out the Lady Eagles nine-point, 53-44 victory over the Terriers.

As a team NCCU shot 16-of-54 from the field, 4-of-10 from behind the arc and 17-of-24 from the charity stripe while collecting 46 rebounds, 14 steals, six blocks and six assists.

The Lady Eagles continue road action in South Carolina on Monday, Dec. 2 as they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks at 7 p.m. in Columbia.  

Box Score

Written By Andrea Wheeler, Assistant Sports Information Director
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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