CLINTON, S.C. – Senior guard
Kristin Askew drilled five 3-pointers on her way to a career-high 20 points for visiting North Carolina Central University in a 60-50 non-conference women's basketball loss to Presbyterian College late Tuesday afternoon.
The Blue Hose used a big second quarter, outscoring the Lady Eagles 21-9, to build a sizable lead and then held on for the 10-point triumph. Presbyterian improved to 5-6 overall and NCCU slipped to 1-9.
Askew, who had a career-high 10 points prior to Tuesday's game, fired with precision to double up that mark to 20 points. The Arlington, Texas, native swished 5 of 11 attempts from behind the arc and sank 5 of 7 free throw opportunities. Her 20 points was also the highest point total scored by any NCCU player this season.
NCCU freshman
Rodneysha Martin provided nine points for a second straight contest. Senior
Tisha Dixon was the only other Lady Eagle to record more than one basket in scoring six points. Junior
Chantal Thomas chipped in three points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshmen
Dominique Adams and
Deja McCain led the Maroon and Gray with six rebounds apiece.
After an opening 3-pointer by the Blue Hose, Askew launched her first accurate long ball to start a 7-0 NCCU run to put the visitors ahead by five early at 7-2. Presbyterian rallied to tie the score before a Thomas lay-in gave the Lady Eagles their final lead at 9-7. The Blue Hose scored the next five points to jump ahead for good but a late layup by freshman
Tyshay Britten inched NCCU within one at 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Sophomore Allie Wagner scored the first six points of the second period to start a 12-3 run by the hosts. PC shot 50-percent in that 10-minute stanza to construct a 33-20 advantage at halftime.
NCCU doubled up the Blue Hose, 10-5, on the boards in the first quarter but Presbyterian took over on the glass in the second quarter, 13-6. PC also had a 16-0 surplus on points off turnovers at the intermission.
Askew led all players into the halftime locker room by drilling a trio of 3-pointers for nine points.
Presbyterian scored the first six points of the third quarter to take its largest lead at 39-20. NCCU answered with a 13-0 rally to pull within two possessions at 39-33. The comeback featured all nine of Martin's points. However, the Blue Hose tallied the final four points of the period to regain a double-digit edge heading into the fourth quarter at 43-33.
The two teams traded hoops in the fourth as both squads scored 17 points. Presbyterian kept an eight to 16 point lead throughout the final frame.
PC's starters scored 43 points with sophomore Janie Miles leading the victors with 10 points. Classmate Cortney Storey cashed in nine points while Wagner and juniors Rebecca Walker and Aianna Kelly all tossed in eight points. Wagner also had a game-high seven rebounds.
The Blue Hose made 23 of 51 (45.1%) field goals compared to 15 of 47 (31.9%) by the Lady Eagles. PC outrebounded NCCU, 36-33, and committed five less turnovers, 20-15.
NCCU will wrap-up the 2015 portion of its schedule on New Year's Eve, with its fourth consecutive road game at UNC Greensboro at 2 p.m.
