DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore guard Rodneysha Martin scored a career-high 16 points for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team, but visiting Presbyterian College fought back from an eight-point halftime deficit to win Tuesday afternoon's clash, 72-63, in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Blue Hose (2-7) won their second straight game, while the Lady Eagles (1-9) dropped a seventh consecutive contest.
 
Martin scored her team-high 16 points on 4 of 6 precision from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers, and 5 of 6 accuracy from the free throw line. She also tallied three assists, two blocks, one steals and one rebound.
 
Senior Morgan Jones was one point behind Martin with 15 points. Jones has scored in double figures in six of 10 games, including three straight showings on the hardwood.
 
The first half was close throughout with eight ties and three lead changes. Martin nailed a pull-up jumper for the Lady Eagles as the horn sounded to end the first quarter with the score deadlock the score at 20-all.
 
NCCU kept the momentum and doubled up the Blue Hose, 16-8, in the second quarter to take a 36-28 advantage at halftime. Sophomore Brianna Best capped the big period with a pair of buckets in the final minute, including a successful put-back at the buzzer.
 
Martin led all players at the intermission with nine points. She then added a pair of assists on made 3-pointers by Jones and freshman Jada Blow to keep NCCU ahead by eight, 42-34, midway through the third quarter.
 
However, the Blue Hose finished the frame on an 18-8 run. Presbyterian nailed 11 treys, with four of them coming in that rally. Junior guard Cortney Storey made a pair of free throws with 3.8 seconds left after NCCU's bench was assessed a technical foul to put the visitors up 52-50 at the end of the break.
 
Presbyterian maintained the lead throughout the final frame and made 9 of 13 free throws over that span to seal the victory. NCCU committed 13 of its 20 turnovers in the second half.
 
Storey led all players with 22 points, eight assists and three steals.
 
Sophomore Deja McCain chipped in eight points and a team-high seven rebounds for the maroon and gray. Classmates Dominique Adams and Jayla Calhoun each added six points.
 
NCCU will return from its holiday break with a road game at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, on Friday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.