DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore libero Bree Simmons highlighted play for host North Carolina Central University with 11 digs in a straight-set loss to defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division champion Bethune-Cookman University at Charles E. Jordan High School Sunday afternoon.
 
The Wildcats hit .319 in completing the 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-20) triumph. Bethune-Cookman (4-16 Overall, 3-2 MEAC) moved over .500 in the league and jumped ahead of NCCU (3-10, 2-2) in the standings.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Simmons reached double-digit digs for the seventh time this season with her team-high 11 digs.
 
The senior duo of Casey Curran and Kelsey Murphy led NCCU's attack with nine and eight kills, respectively. Sophomore Whitney White followed with five kills and two block assists. Murphy toyed with a double-double with her eight kills and nine digs. Junior Paige Phillips tallied 21 assists.
 
BETHUNE-COKKMAN HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Freshman Alana Handy was hard to stop as she crushed 18 kills on 33 swings with just three errors for a .455 hitting percentage.
 
Junior Jai Chapman chipped in eight kills and a match-high 13 digs. Sophomore setter J'nai Higgins totaled 34 assists, four aces and three block assists.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: The opener started as a seesaw affair with eight ties and five lead changes. Kills by Daye and Curran provided NCCU its last two leads at 14-13 and 15-14. Four consecutive errors by the Lady Eagles allowed the Wildcats to gain an 18-15 edge, which started a closing 11-2 run. Handy ripped eight of her 18 kills in the game.
 
2ND: The Lady Eagles won the initial point of the middle set before Bethune-Cookman rattled off eight consecutive points to take control. The Wildcats hit .444 in the period to clinch their most convincing win by 11 points.
 
3RD: Another early surge by the visitors kept Bethune-Cookman in control. The Wildcats once again dropped the first point before pushing ahead with seven straight points. NCCU closed to within two at 20-18 on a kill by Curran, but a couple more errors by the hosts ended the rally and Bethune-Cookman was able to win by five points.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
BCU has won five consecutive matches against NCCU and is 11-6 against the Lady Eagles since 2007 (DI era).
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU steps out of league play and will visit Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.