DURHAM, N.C. – Senior forward Tisha Dixon poured in 14 points and was just one rebound shy of a double-double to pace the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in its season opener, but visiting Campbell University spoiled the hoops debut on the new McDougald-McLendon Arena floor with a 57-48 win Monday evening.
 
NCCU jumped ahead on a layup by Dixon on the teams opening possession and stayed in front for the next 15 minutes. However, the Lady Eagles were held to just six points in the second and five in the third, allowing the Lady Camels to rally for the nine-point win.
 
Campbell (1-1) leveled its record with its eighth straight win in the series. NCCU (0-1) dropped its season opener for the first time in since 2012.
 
Dixon was 5 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free throw line on the way to matching her career-high point total of 14. The Kinston, North Carolina, product also led NCCU with nine rebounds and four steals.
 
Junior guard Morgan Jones contributed eight points and freshman forward Deja McCain paced the Lady Eagles' reserves with five points. Jones also corralled five rebounds and dished out a game-high five assists. Senior guard Kristin Askew and junior center Tyshay Britten each chipped in four points.
 
A total of seven players came off the bench to make their debut representing the Maroon and Gray, including junior transfers Chantal Thomas and Tyshay Britten to go along with McCain and fellow freshmen Rodneysha Martin, Dominique Adams and Maya Jackson.
 
The Lady Eagles swished six of their first 10 shots to pull out to a quick 13-4 advantage. The flurry featured made field goals by a half dozen Lady Eagles. A late layup by Jackson and a free throw by Adams kept the hosts up nine, 18-9, heading into the final minute of the first quarter.
 
Campbell started its comeback push with five quick points in the last 60 second of the first to only trail by four, 18-14. The Lady Camels then held NCCU to just two made field goals in both the second and third periods. A three-pointer by freshman Caroline Bowns put the visitors up for the first time with 2:49 left in the second quarter and Campbell never relinquished it. Despite outscoring NCCU 14-6 in the second, the Lady Camels only led 28-24 at halftime. Campbell did increase its lead to 38-29 after doubling up the Lady Eagles 10-5 in the third and eventually pushed its lead to as many as 17 in the fourth before NCCU closed the contest with a 15-7 run in the final three minutes to cut the final deficit to single digits.
 
NCCU shot 30.5-perecent (18 of 59) from the floor and was ice cold form three-point distance making just 1 of 15 attempts (6.7%). The Lady Camels was slightly better converting 36-percent (22 of 61) of their attempts, including 2 of 16 (12.5%) from behind the arc.
 
The Lady Eagles were plagued by 21 turnovers, allowing Campbell to outscore NCCU, 22-9, on points off mistakes.
 
Junior Amanda Coffer highlighted play for the victorious Lady Camels with double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Coffer also had five blocks and three steals. Freshman Summer Price led all players with 15 points.
 
NCCU will make its longest road trip of the season this weekend as the Lady Eagles visit the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Huskers are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches' Preseason top-25 poll.