DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Morgan Jones scored 17 points and senior Kristin Askew poured in 15 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in regulation to propel the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team to a 66-61 victory over Furman University Monday evening in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Senior Tisha Dixon and freshman Dominique also reached double figures in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Lady Eagles leveled their home record to 2-2.
 
NCCU (2-10 Overall) shot over 40-percent for the first time this season to end a five-game losing streak. The Lady Eagles made 25 of 62 (40.3%) field goal attempts on the way to scoring a season-high 66 points. NCCU also committed a season-low 13 turnovers.
 
Furman (7-8) dipped below .500 despite 17 points by junior Whitney Bunn and 16 points by sophomore Cierra Carter. The visitors have had a winning record in each of its last two seasons but senior leading scorer and All-SoCon performer Holli Wilkins was held to just four points.
 
The Paladins tied the seesaw affair that featured 22 lead changes for the 13th and final time on a freshman Kaitlyn Duncan layup at the 2:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Askew answered with her third 3-pointer of the game on a kick-out pass by Dixon on NCCU's ensuing possession to push NCCU back in front for good.
 
After a Furman miss, Dixon made a wide-open layup on a nice feed by Adams as the shot clock was expiring to increase the Lady Eagles edge to five at 64-59. The Paladins pulled back to within one possession on a jumper by Duncan as the clock ticked inside one minute. Both squads missed shots on their next possession before Furman was forced to foul with 5.6 seconds left. Askew stepped up to the charity stripe and nailed the clutch free throws to seal the triumph.
 
Jones matched her season-high output with 17 points. Askew reached double figures for a third straight game and dished out a career-high seven assists. They both swished a trio of treys. Dixon scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and Adams set a new season-high point total in her rookie season with 11 points.
 
A put-back layup by Jones on a fast break opportunity at the 3:45 mark of the second quarter provided NCCU with the largest lead of the contest at 24-17. The Lady Eagles remained in front for the final couple minutes of the first half but a 3-pointer by junior Allison Beasley trimmed the Furman deficit to 28-25 at halftime.
 
Jones led all players at the break with 11 points.
 
NCCU forced a normally sure-handed Paladins squad into 13 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Furman entered the contest averaging just 14.2 turnovers per game and finished with 19 total miscues on the night.
 
The two teams played the first 16 minutes of the second half within one possession of each other.
 
The Maroon and Gray held a 40-37 rebounding advantage on Furman with Dixon securing a team-high eight rebounds. Jones corralled a career-high seven boards and junior Tyshay Britten grabbed six missed shots.
 
NCCU ended a 16-game non-conference losing streak with the victory and will look to take that momentum into league play as the Lady Eagles return to MEAC competition at South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, S.C.) on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m.