ORANGEBURG, S.C. – North Carolina Central University could not find its offensive rhythm on Saturday, Dec. 4 as South Carolina State forced 31 maroon and gray turnovers to obtain a 66-32 win in Orangeburg, S.C.
Sophomore J’Mia Pollock’s season-high 11 rebounds were not enough to propel the Lady Eagles past the Lady Bulldogs.
Senior Jori Nwachukwu provided the only NCCU double-digit performance on the night with 12 points and seven boards. Fellow senior Shanise Blanks followed with nine points and a perfect charity line percentage.
As a unit, the Lady Eagles grabbed 31 rebounds, earned 20 points in the paint and were 44 percent from the free throw line.
South Carolina State’s offense was paced by Whitney Wiley, who dominated the arc for the Lady Bulldogs. Wiley amassed 22 points, going 6-for-9 from the long range. Cherisha Floyd attributed nine points in the win. Floyd shared the rebounding game with Tracey Flowers at five apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs collected 35 rebounds, three blocks and 12 steals on the night.
The Lady Eagles found it difficult to put the offense together during the first half of play. The SCSU defense held NCCU to a 43 percent from the field and 25 percent from the arc.
Pollock got into the mix early, leading the rebounding game with three. NCCU and SCSU amassed 15 rebounds apiece in the half.
The NCCU offensive effort was led by Blanks with nine points. The guard was 100 percent from the free throw line and 1-for-2 from the long range. Nwachukwu elevated her slow offense start scoring her first point at 9:44 mark, for a first half total of six.
The host team forced 17 maroon and grey turnovers, which SCSU turned into 19 points.
With two minutes left in the half, NCCU attempted to revive the offense beginning with a fast-break layup by Blaire Houston. Williams hit a two-point jumper and Nwachukwu scored in the paint to break the SCSU momentum and end the half at 23-34.
The SCSU offense found success in the paint, scoring 16 points below the arc. Floyd set the Lady Bulldogs in motion during the first half with nine points. Tiana Hemphill grabbed five rebounds in the half.
The home bench outscored the visiting maroon and grey 18-2.
As NCCU head coach Joli Robinson screamed “shooter,” SCSU’s Wiley hit back-to-back three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half.
By the first media-time out SCSU began its first run of the half the Lady Bulldogs finished the second half outscoring the Lady Eagles 9-32.
SCSU held NCCU to a field goal percentage of 14, and a season-low zero percent from the three-point range in the second half.
NCCU drops to 1-6 on the season, while South Carolina State advances to 2-3.
The Lady Eagles continue their travels facing Gardner-Webb University on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C.
