DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University led Saturday's women's basketball game against Bluefield State for more than 28 minutes, including the first 16 minutes of the second half. However, the visiting Lady Blues led when it matters most – at the final buzzer.
 
Thanks to a game-high 29 points by sophomore guard Shakima Wiggins and 14-7 run to end the game, Bluefield State extended its win streak to four games with a 66-63 win over NCCU inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
 
The Lady Blues scored the first six points of the contest before NCCU responded with a 21-9 run to take control. The Lady Eagles enjoyed a 35-27 cushion at intermission, which was their largest lead of the first half.
 
NCCU maintained its advantage through the first 16 minutes of the second half, but the Lady Blues never allowed the deficit to get to more than eight points. The Lady Eagles held a 56-52 advantage with 5:37 remaining, when Bluefield State started chipping away the gap.
 
A layup by Wiggins at 4:04 narrowed the margin to two points, then a pair of free throws by Tasia Nolan tied the score at 56-56 with 3:22 left, evening the game for the first time since the 12:28 mark of the first half when the tally was 13-13.
 
The Lady Blues posted the next seven points to cap an 11-0 run, taking a 63-56 lead with a minute remaining, as NCCU failed to score during a near five-minute drought.
 
A three-pointer by NCCU sophomore Morgan Jones gave the Lady Eagles some hope, trimming the deficit to two points at 65-63 with 11 seconds on the clock.
 
With seven seconds remaining, Wiggins made the second of two free throws to make it a three-point lead, but still a one-possession game. Jones had a look at a potential game-tying three-pointer, but missed the shot at the buzzer.
 
NCCU drops to 2-11 on the season, while Bluefield State improves to 10-5.
 
The Lady Eagles were topped by senior Racquel Davis with team-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Davis is now 15 points away from tallying her 1,000th collegiate career point.
 
Nikki Works and Jones contributed 11 points each for NCCU, while Tisha Dixon and Alexus Hynes added nine points apiece. Khyra Conerly did a little of everything for the Lady Eagles with five points, four rebounds, and game-highs of eight assists and five steals.
 
NCCU returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 6 to host Wofford at 6 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.  Admission is free.