DURHAM, N.C. — Senior Rodneysha Martin scored a game-high 21 points, junior Paulina Afriyie netted another double-double and sophomore Zaria Atkins swished a season-high 16 points to lead the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team to a 66-59 victory over Wofford College Saturday morning in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Eagles (2-7) shot 45.5-percent from the field and held the Terriers (6-5) to a season-low 28.9-percent on the way to their second straight triumph.
 
Martin, who missed the first seven games of the season, continued her stellar play in her second outing. The Olive Branch, Mississippi, product made 9-of-15 field goal attempts on the way to her 21 points. Martin also chipped in eight rebounds and three assists.
 
Afriyie logged her second consecutive double-double and third of the campaign with 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The Bronx, New York, native also had two blocks.
 
Atkins was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line, including a clutch 4-for-4 in the final 30 seconds, on her way to a season-best 16 points.
 
NCCU led for majority of the first half, but the Eagles never led by more than four points over that span. A trio of Eagles accounted for 85-percent of NCCU's scoring over the first 20 minutes with Afriyie and Martin both bucketing eight points and Atkins depositing seven points. A deep jumper by junior Shontai Totten that was ruled a 2-pointer from the right corner was NCCU's last basket of the half with just under two minutes left and helped the hosts cling to a 27-25 edge at halftime.
 
Wofford was held to just 22-percent shooting in the first half, but the Terriers took advantage of its free throw chances to only trail by one possession at the intermission. Wofford was 11-of-12 from the charity stripe for 92-percent precision.
 
The visitors briefly regained a 31-29 lead early in the third quarter before NCCU scored the next 10 points to retake the advantage. Martin sparked the decisive run with two baskets and her 3-pointer with 4:46 on the clock capped the outburst as the All-MEAC honoree scored seven of those 10 points in that two minute and 38 second window.
 
The Eagles were up 12 points, 52-40, after 30 minutes of play. However, Wofford scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to pull within five, making things interesting all the way to the final buzzer.
 
After a couple of offensive fouls were whistled against NCCU, Wofford was able to pull within one possession, 60-57, heading into the final two minutes. Afriyie answered for the Eagles by making a tough 5-footer in the paint on NCCU's ensuing possession. After each team was unable to execute on their next two possessions, freshman Kiyana Brown came up with a big block with 35 seconds left to keep the maroon and gray ahead by five. The Terriers were then forced to foul and Atkins made four consecutive free throws to seal the victory.
 
Brown had four of NCCU's seven blocks and her eight rebounds aided in the Eagles outrebounding Wofford, 47-42. Totten finished with six points.
 
Junior Chloe Wanink and sophomore Jamari McDavid paced the Terriers with 16 points apiece.
 
NC Central next plays in the GSU Classic and will first play host Georgia State University on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m.