Written by Staci Green, Sports Information Student Assistant

DURHAM, N.C. –The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team battled back from an eight-point second-half deficit to beat the Coppin State University Eagles, 59-58, and end a three-game losing skid on Saturday, Jan. 24 in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

Senior Racquel Davis earned her seventh double-double of the season, with game-highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday's victory.

With 14 ties and 14 lead changes, NCCU (4-15, 2-5 MEAC) had a back-and-forth battle on its hands.

Immediately, N.C. Central got out to a 5-0 edge in the first half, with a jumper from Morgan Jones and a three-pointer from Nikki Works.

At 12:11, a layup from Davis gave NCCU a one-point, 16-15, advantage over Coppin State (3-13, 2-3 MEAC). Davis worked her way in for another shot, stretching the N.C. Central lead to 18-15.

It wasn't until the clock read 5:27 did CSU take a narrow lead over NCCU, at 21-20. Two free-throw shots by Coppin State forward Bria Harris, put them ahead.

CSU's lead was short-lived, as NCCU answered quickly with a layup from Tisha Dixon, giving N.C. Central 22 and CSU 21.

Roughly two minutes remained in the first half, and the contest was knotted at 25. Coppin State took a four-point advantage, but three free throws by NCCU trimmed CSU's first-half lead to 29-28.

The first-half margin never escaped more than five points for either team, and defense was the key. NCCU outrebounded CSU, 19-13, in the opening period.

Coming into the second-half, the NCCU fans were high in energy, with a conference game on the line.

The 11th tie of the game presented itself at 13:11 in the second half, with Davis' help on the layup. The scoreboard was equal at 39.

NCCU fell into an 8-0 hole midway through the second half, trailing 50-42, with 8:51 left to play.

The fight in N.C. Central was more evident than ever, as it began a 7-0 run to come back and tie the game at 53. Less than five minutes remained, and the NCCU fans were ecstatic.

Trailing by three points with fewer than three minutes left, NCCU scored the game's final four points, all on free throws, including the game-winner by Khyra Conerly with 24 seconds on the clock, to beat Coppin State 59-58.

N.C. Central hits the court again in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Monday, Jan. 26 to compete against the Delaware State Hornets at 4 p.m.