DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – North Carolina Central University was tied on the road at halftime but was unable to keep scoring with Bethune-Cookman University after being outrebounded by 14 in a 62-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss on Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior center Kailyn Williams scored 21 points, including 13 consecutive Wildcat points in B-CU's go-ahead run in the third quarter, and tallied five rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal.
 
Bethune-Cookman (16-11 Overall, 10-4 MEAC) remained in contention for the regular season title with the victory. NCCU (4-21, 2-12) has slipped into a tie for last place in the league standings with its ninth consecutive MEAC loss.
 
Junior guard Morgan Jones bounced back from being held scoreless for the first time this season with a strong outing against the Wildcats. Jones led the Lady Eagles with 15 points and four steals.
 
Freshman Deja McCain topped NCCU's reserves with eight points. Classmate Chantal Thomas filled up the box score with six points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
 
Bethune-Cookman jumped out a 10-2 lead after dominating the backboards, 12-2, in the opening run.
 
NCCU closed the first quarter with a 9-2 rally that featured bookend baskets by McCain to pull within one at 12-11. A 15-foot jumper and a fast-break layup by freshman Jayla Calhoun put the Lady Eagles ahead for the first time at 15-13 early in the second quarter. NCCU continued to lead 19-15 after another McCain hoop and at 22-19 on the first of three 3-pointers made by Jones.
 
The Wildcats scored the next five points but a final-minute shot by junior Monique Whaley-Briggs deadlocked the score, 24-24, at halftime.
 
NCCU took a slim lead two more times early in the third quarter, including the last time at 30-28 on another Jones trey at the 6:35 mark. A 3-pointer by junior Kendra Cooper put B-CU back ahead on the ensuing possession before freshman Dominique Adams made 1 of 2 free throws to tie the score for the fifth and final time at 31-all.
 
Williams scored the contests next four points with a pair of free throws and a layup to put the hosts ahead for good. That started a 13-6 Wildcat run to finish the third quarter. Williams scored all 13 points for Bethune-Cookman during that span, including a short shot in the paint at the buzzer to extend B-CU's lead to 44-37.
 
The Wildcats started the final period on an 8-0 run and then maintained a double-digit cushion for the last eight-plus minutes.
 
Williams scored her game-high 21 points on 8 of 12 precision from the floor and 5 of 6 accuracy from the free throw line. Cooper tacked on 14 points and handed out seven assists.
 
Bethune-Cookman crashed the glass for a 45-31 rebounding surplus. Freshman Ashanti Hunt led the Wildcats rebounders with nine boards. B-CU grabbed 19 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points.
 
Calhoun matched Thomas with six points. Senior Tisha Dixon paced the Lady Eagles with eight boards.
 
NCCU will play its final home game on Monday when the Lady Eagles entertain MEAC foe Savannah State University at 5:30 p.m.