NORFOLK, Va. — Sophomore guard Jada Blow poured in a season-high 18 points for eighth-seeded North Carolina Central University, but ninth-seeded South Carolina State University made half of its shots to pull off the mild upset, 76-67, in the first round of the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday.
 
The Lady Bulldogs pulled a role reversal from 10 days ago, defeating the Eagles with a wire-to-wire victory. NCCU had defeated SCSU in a coast-to-coast win, 81-63, on Feb. 24 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
 
South Carolina St. (12-17 Overall) will next play top-seeded North Carolina A&T State University in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at Noon. NCCU (9-21) ended its season with its most wins since the 2013-14 season.
 
Blow made four 3-pointers and was a precise 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the floor on the way to 18 points.
 
SCSU scored the contests first six points from inside the paint and shot a sizzling 66.7-percent (10-15) from the field in the first quarter to construct a dozen points advantage, 27-15, after 10 minutes.
 
A couple baskets by junior Jayla Calhoun helped NCCU start the second quarter on a 6-0 run and a three-pointer by freshman Kieche White a few minutes later pulled the Eagles to within five at 33-28. However, the Lady Bulldogs outscored NCCU 8-3 for the rest of the period to reestablish 10-point lead of 41-31 at halftime.
 
White, a MEAC All-Rookie Team honoree, led all players at the midway break scoring 12 of her 16 points before the intermission. She ended up filling up the box score with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
 
The Eagles came soaring out of the locker room and went on a 16-7 run to pull within one point. Junior Caira Benton and Deja McCain each hit a pair of hoops during NCCU's rally. The Lady Bulldogs barked back with the final six points of the third quarter to stay ahead, 54-47.
 
SCSU maintained at least a five-point edge throughout the fourth quarter. A pair of made free throws by junior Dominique Adams followed by a quick steal and layup by Blow on the ensuing inbounds play just two seconds later had the Eagles within six, 63-57, with 2:57 left. The Lady Bulldogs were able to provide rebuttal points after NCCU scored from that point to prevail by seven.
 
Senior Second Team All-MEAC selection Bryeasha Blair made seven free throws for the victors in the final minute on her way to a game-high 21 points. Junior Jasmine Williams added a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Calhoun had a strong game for NCCU, recording 10 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Benton totaled six points and McCain finished with five points and five rebounds.