DURHAM, N.C. — Junior forward Paulina Afriyie posted her fifth double-double and freshman wing Xian Lopez scored a season-high 11 points for host North Carolina Central University in a 67-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) women's basketball loss to Bethune-Cookman University Saturday afternoon.
 
The Eagles outscored the Wildcats 37-31 in the second half, but it proved too little after a sluggish first half.
 
Bethune-Cookman (8-5 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) has won or shared the MEAC regular season title each of the last three seasons. NCCU (3-11, 0-1) had a three-game home win streak snapped.
 
Afriyie netted her second straight double-double with a team-high 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Lopez scored all 11 of her points in the second half.
 
Bethune-Cookman was able to construct an insurmountable lead in the first half, outscoring NCCU 36-13.
 
The Eagles were held to just 15.6-percent shooting over that span to fall behind by 23 points. Reigning MEAC Player of the Year Angel Golden made a trio of treys before the midway break and led all players at the intermission with 16 points. The senior sharpshooter finished with a game-high 21 points.
 
The visitors scored the first four points of the game and never trailed. The Wildcats led 19-7 after the first quarter and then increased their lead with a 17-6 scoring margin in the second quarter.
 
NCCU heated up in the third quarter, making 52.9-percent of its shots in the period. However, the Eagles only outscored the Wildcats 20-18 to still trail 54-33 entering the fourth quarter.
 
The maroon and gray made things interesting by swishing their first six shots of the final period, going went on a 14-1 run to close the gap to eight points. Lopez was the catalyst during the comeback attempt, making three 3-pointers. Her third made trifecta at the 6:38 mark capped the run and closed NCCU's deficit to 55-47.
 
Another 3-pointer by senior Rodneysha Martin once again got NCCU within eight at 58-50, but the Eagles were then held scoreless from that point. BCU scored the last nine points over that final 5:54 to extend the final margin of victory to 17 points.
 
Martin totaled nine points and four assists. Sophomore Kieche White made her season debut, and she scored five points. Sophomore Zaria Atkins chipped in four assists.
 
BCU shot 42.1-percent for the game and held a 45-41 advantage on the backboards. Senior forward Chasimmie Brown added 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Wildcats.
 
NC Central will next play at University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday at 2 p.m.