Box Score
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – A duo of rookies for the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team lead the Lady Eagles offensively as NCCU dropped a heartbreaking 40-39 decision to the Lady Bulldogs from South Carolina State, Monday, Feb. 18, at the S-H-M Memorial Center in Orangeburg, S.C.
 
The freshman combination of Aja Hoyle and Tisha Dixon lead the Lady Eagles offensively during the match-up with the Lady Bulldogs scoring 11 and 10 points respectively. Hoyle, the Hickory, N.C., native, also collected four rebounds, dished out two assists and blocked one SCSU shot during the contest while Dixon contributed four rebounds and one steal for NCCU.
 
As a team the Lady Eagles out rebounded the Lady Bulldogs with 39 boards compared to SCSU’s 33. Red shirt senior Chasidy Williams lead NCCU and the game on the glass collecting a game-high of nine boards. In addition, Williams also scored six points, dished one assist, blocked one shot and collected two steals.
 
With two seconds left on the game clock, the ball ended up in the hands of the Lady Eagles lone senior, Williams, after a steal and foul from the opposing team. The Fayetteville, N.C., native approached the free throw line with a one-and-one situation and a chance to tie game, or take the lead for NCCU before falling short as time expired leaving the final score at 40-39 in favor of the home Lady Bulldogs.
 
NCCU kept control of the game during the entire first half, pulling ahead by as many as nine points, while holding SCSU to a measly two points over ten minutes into the contest. The Lady Eagles held the host team to a season-low half time score, heading into the locker room with a 15-10 advantage over the Lady Bulldogs.
 
At the halftime intermission, Hoyle had already gathered 6 points and shot 2-for-6 from the field and 2-for-3 from the charity stripe.
 
SCSU returned to their home hardwood on a 5-0 run in the first two minutes of play, pulling ahead of the Lady Eagles by three with 18:14 left on the clock.
 
NCCU battled to keep the game within striking distance only allowing the Lady Bulldogs lead to reach five. Two made free throws from Dixon at the 11 minute mark tied the ball game at 27. The contest would see four more lead changes and two additional ties before SCSU closed out the ball game with a one-point victory over the Lady Eagles, 40-39.
 
The Lady Eagles finished the competition shooting 14-for-43 from the field, 32 percent, collecting 39 rebounds and shooting 68 percent from the charity stripe on 11-for-16.
 
Trinese Fox lead the Lady Bulldogs offense with 10 points while Fannie Goodwin added seven rebounds for SCSU.
 
In the last-second victory, the Lady Bulldogs were 29 percent from the field on 16-for-54, 2-of-18 from behind the arc, and 75 percent from the free-throw line, 6-for-8.
 
NCCU declines to 1-24 overall and 1-11 in MEAC competition, as SCSU advances to 15-7 overall, 7-4 in conference play.
 
The Lady Eagles return home this Saturday, Feb. 23 as they take on long-time rival North Carolina A&T. Tipoff against the Aggies is set for 2 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.