DURHAM, N.C. – A trio of guards scored in double figures for host North Carolina Central University, but a big third quarter catapulted USC Upstate to the 68-58 women's basketball victory Tuesday evening in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Senior Morgan Jones led the Lady Eagles with 13 points, sophomore Chantal Thomas cashed in a season-high 12 points and sophomore Dominique Adams netted 10 points.
 
Jones has led NCCU in scoring six times this season and has now scored in double digits eight times this year. Thomas swished her dozen points a 5-of-9 precision from the floor. Adams nailed a career-high three 3-pointers on the way to her fourth double-digit scoring contest of the year.
 
Sophomore forward Deja McCain flirted with the Lady Eagles' first double-double of the season with nine points and a season-high nine rebounds. Junior post Kierona Morton added a season-high eight points and six rebounds.
 
Upstate had NCCU doubled-up after the first quarter, 18-9, but the Lady Eagles closed the gap to one point at halftime, 31-30, after shooting 63.6-percent in the second quarter. Adams drilled all three of her treys in the period.
 
The Spartans scored the first seven points of the decisive third quarter and outscored NCCU, 19-11, in the frame to increase their lead to 50-41. Upstate's advantage eventually grew to 13 at 59-46 before the Lady Eagles made one last valiant comeback attempt.
 
NCCU made four layups in just over a one-minute span to pull within five. McCain started the 8-0 rally with a lay-in at the 3:17 mark; Morton followed with another layup on a nice feed by Jones; Thomas converted on an open fast-break opportunity off a steal and assist by Jones; and Morton capped the surge with an offensive rebound and putback with 2:03 showing on the clock.
 
A three-point attempt by Jones could have inched the Lady Eagles within two points, but her long-range attempt misfired and the Spartans scored on their ensuing possession. USC Upstate then sealed the win by making 5-of-6 free throws in the final 63 seconds.
 
Sophomore guard DeNisha Swain led Upstate with 16 points, seven assists and six steals. Senior Raven Jefferson supplied 14 points and freshman Riley Popplewell tallied a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
USC Upstate never trailed and moved to within one game of .500 at 7-8 overall with its second straight win.
 
NCCU (1-11) will begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play on Saturday when the Lady Eagles host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 2 p.m.