DURHAM, N.C. – Senior guard Morgan Jones scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the second half in surging the North Carolina Central University women's basketball past Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival South Carolina State University, 52-41, on Saturday afternoon in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Lady Eagles trailed by seven, 24-17, after shooting just 18.2-percent in the first half before NCCU found its touch in the second half, making 12 of 27 shots (44.4%) to pull away.
 
NCCU (5-17 Overall, 4-6 MEAC) started the third quarter on a 17-2 run to jump ahead by a dozen, 34-26. The key run included a trio of three pointers made by sophomore Rodneysha Martin, freshman Jada Blow and Jones.
 
South Carolina State (5-17, 2-9) cut the deficit to single digits a couple times but turnovers cost the visitors any chance of completing a comeback. The Lady Bulldogs committed 25 mistakes that gave the Lady Eagles a 29-12 advantage on points off turnovers.
 
Jones pick-pocketed SCSU six times to account for nearly half of NCCU's 13 steals. The two-time COSIDA Academic All-District honoree also went a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line on her way to becoming the games top scorer with 19 points.
 
Sophomore Dominique Adams chipped in nine points. Jones and Adams each handed out three assists.
 
Blow made her second 3-pointer to open up the scoring in the fourth quarter as NCCU maintained at least a three-position cushion throughout the final 10 minutes. Blow finished with eight points.
 
South Carolina State had a dominating 31-16 rebounding advantage at halftime, but the Lady Eagles closed the final gap to 46-40 with a 24-15 edge in the second half. Sophomore Deja McCain and freshman Paulina Afriyie both crashed the glass for seven rebounds. Afriyie's defensive efforts also included two blocks and two steals.
 
The Lady Bulldogs led for most of the first half with senior guard Bryeasha Blair netting 13 of her team-high 15 points before the intermission.
 
Blair, who is the MEAC's second leading scorer, was held without a made field goal on seven attempts in the second half by NCCU's defense. Freshman forward Schekinah Bimpa tallied a game-high 11 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs and junior Brittany Drumgoole chipped in 11 points.
 
NCCU will next host MEAC foe Florida A&M University on Monday at 5:30 p.m. The contest will be designated as the Lady Eagles' "Pink Game".