Box Score
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – With 2,700 screaming fifth graders and Campbell University’s second half revival, the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles found it difficult to maintain their first half lead. The maroon and grey fell to the orange and black 67-61 in the John W. Pope Convocation, Jr. Center on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Seniors Shanise Blanks and Jori Nwachukwu paced the NCCU offense, tallying 14 points apiece. Blanks added three assists to her play, while Nwachukwu grabbed five boards. Winston-Salem, N.C. native J’Mia Pollock lead the rebounding game with six boards and blocked three opponents’ shots. Junior guard Blaire Houston put forth her second double-digit performance with 10 points, and distributed three assists.
Blanks revived her three-pointer reputation, hitting 50 percent from behind the arc. Houston had a solid free throw outing, sinking 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
On the afternoon, the Lady Eagles went 59 percent from the free throw line, 55 percent from behind the arc and 39 percent from the field.
Senior forward Laruen Yesh led the Lady Camels offense with 12 points. Junior Amanda O’Neill and freshman Ashley James added 11 points apiece in the Campbell win. James displayed a dominant rebounding performance grabbing 14 rebounds. Junior Kate Cloxton circulated eight assists.
As a team, Campbell went 46 percent from the field, 31 percent from behind the arc and 50 percent from the free throw line.
The Lady Eagles began the contest with strong offensive start. Blanks commenced the offense with an early jumper at the 19:24 mark. The Wilmington, N.C. native led the first-half offense with eight points.
The two teams tied four times in the first 20 minutes, but NCCU maintained the lead for 15 minutes of play.
While the Lady Camels grabbed 25 rebounds to the Lady Eagles 15, NCCU monopolized on Campbell’s 12 turnovers, scoring 10 points off the orange and black errors.
Campbell’s James led the first-half offense with eight points.
By the halftime intermission, the visiting team hit 67 percent from the charity stripe, 60 percent from the three-point arc and 41 percent from the field.
NCCU held the host team to 36 percent from the field, 29 percent from behind the arc and 50 percent from the free throw line.
Halftime talks rejuvenated the Lady Camels and were especially motivating for Yesh.
By the 10:18 mark, Campbell grabbed the lead and held the lead until the end. Yesh scored 12 of her total 14 points in the half. At the 7:33 mark, the Lady Camels outscored the Lady Eagles 11-4.
As the NCCU offense began the simmer, the Campbell offense launched. The Lady Eagles dropped to 36 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the arc and 56 percent from the charity stripe. The Lady Camels progressed to 55 percent from the field, 33 percent from behind the arc and maintained their 50 percent free throw outing.
The Lady Eagles drop to 1-8 on the season, as Campbell advances to 1-7.
NCCU will begin its three-game homestead on Saturday, hosting the Liberty University Flames on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. in the McDougald-McLendon Gym.
