PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Senior guard Rodneysha Martin led North Carolina Central University with 14 points in a 59-49 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss to University of Maryland Eastern Shore Saturday afternoon at Hytche Arena.
 
The Eagles led after each of the first three quarters, but the Hawks doubled up the visitors 22-11 in the fourth quarter to rally for the win. Eastern Shore (7-9, 3-0) has won four straight games, including its first three league contests. NCCU (3-12, 0-2) remained winless on the road this season.
 
Martin made half of her baskets (7-14) on her way to being the Eagles' lone double-digit scorer with 14 points. Junior Paulina Afriyie scored eight points while senior Caira Benton and sophomore Kieche White each added six points.
 
NCCU outrebounded Eastern Shore 43-32 with Afriyie and freshman Kiyana Brown each pulling down nine boards. Benton added five rebounds, Afriyie dished out three assists and Brown came up with two steals.
 
A 3-point play by Afriyie pulled the Eagles within one, 44-43, with 3:38 left in the showdown. However, the Hawks made their final five field goal attempts from that point and all four of their free throw attempts in the final minute to secure the 10-point win.
 
Senior Ra'Jean Martin scored a game-high 16 points for the victors, including seven points during that closing 15-6 run. Senior Ciani Byrom chipped in 14 points and classmate forward Dominique Walker completed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Eight Eagles scored in the first half and NCCU dominated the backboards, 25-16, to cling to leads of 16-15 and 28-27 after the first two periods despite five Eagles being whistled for two fouls before the intermission.
 
The first half featured six lead changes and three ties. NCCU secured the biggest lead of the half at 27-21 with 2:36 left in the second quarter. Benton finished off a fast-break layup after Afriyie threaded the needle with a long outlet pass and Benton made a baseline jumper from the right corner on NCCU's ensuing possession to cap the run to put the visitors up six.
 
Eastern Shore never led by more than one point in the first half, but the Hawks scored the final four points of the second quarter to inch within one at the midway break. NCCU never relinquished its lead in the third quarter and once again led by one point, 38-37, at the end of another period.
 
After trading the first two baskets of the final frame, a 3-point play by Byrom with 6:42 on the clock gave the hosts the lead for good. Afriyie's own and-one play kept NCCU within one possession before Eastern Shore did not miss again as the Eagles defenders seemed to play tentative with many of them in foul trouble.
 
NCCU committed 26 fouls compared to 17 by Eastern Store. The Hawks only committed 11 turnovers while forcing the Eagles into 19 mistakes. Eastern Shore shot 39.6-percent for the game, including 53.8-percent in the fourth quarter. NCCU was just a tick below at 36.8-percent for the day.
 
NC Central next plays at MEAC foe Delaware State University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.