Box Score
Video:  Lady Eagles Postgame Report Presented by Tru-Pak Moving Systems (Howard)


DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team remains winless in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, after falling to the Lady Bison of Howard University, 56-30, on Monday, Jan. 21 in Durham, N.C.   

Lady Eagle freshman Amber Neely topped the team with 11 points, while junior Tenika Neely followed with seven.  Freshman Aja Hoyle distributed three assists, as Amber Neely stole four Lady Bison possessions and freshman Tisha Dixon pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and blocked one Howard shot.

Howard held the Lady Eagles scoreless until the 13:09 mark of the first half when Tenika Neely hit a single free throw putting NCCU on the board at 14-1. Amber Neely’s layup with 8:42 left in the first half marked NCCU’s first field goal on the night.

The Lady Eagles trailed by 16 heading into the locker room with a score of 32-16. The freshmen duo of Amber Neely and Dixon combined for 10 of NCCU’s first half points with five apiece.

During the second half of play, Howard pushed ahead by as many as 28, before claiming a final 26-point victory of the Lady Eagles, 56-30.

As a team, NCCU shot 29.4 percent from the field on 10-for-34 shooting, collected a total of 26 rebounds, stole 11 Lady Bison possessions and shot an impressive 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.

Howard was led by senior standout Saadia Doyle who led all scorers on the night with 24 points. Doyle also led in rebounding with seven boards, stole three Lady Eagle possessions while shooting 10-for-12 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.  In addition to Doyle’s success, Kara Smith contributed 16 Lady Bison points and Cheyenne Curley-Payne scored eight while dishing out nine assists.

The Lady Bison shot 47.9 percent from the field on 23-for-48, 6-for-21 from the long range, and 40 percent from the free-throw line, 4-for-10.

NCCU drops to 0-17 on the season and 0-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, as the Lady Bison advance to 10-7 on the season and 5-1in conference play.

The Lady Eagles continue their home game stretch as they take on Coppin State on Saturday, Jan. 26 and Morgan State on Monday, Jan. 28 in Durham, N.C., at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

For more information on Lady Eagle basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.