BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team cut a 20-point halftime deficit to five points in the final minute, but host CSU Bakersfield made eight straight free throws in the final 35 seconds to seal an 80-71 non-conference victory Monday night in the Icardo Center.
 
Three Eagles scored in double digits to pace the improbable comeback attempt. Junior guard Kieche White scored a game-high 18 points and delivered four assists. Senior forward Paulina Afriyie posted 16 points and she just missed a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman guard Madalyn Anderson scored a season best point total for a second straight game by swishing 14 points.
 
White and Afriyie, who both have scored 10-plus points in six of seven games this season, each had three steals.
 
Afriyie made a pair of free throws with 35 seconds left to inch NCCU within two possessions at 72-67. The Roadrunners came up flawless in their eight chances from the charity stripe from that point to stay in front and remain undefeated at home.
 
CSU Bakersfield (5-3 Overall) made 18 steals in the contest that led to 26 extra points off NCCU turnovers and 28 fast-break points.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead with Anderson scoring five early points. A trio of first-quarter layups by fellow freshman Simone Edmundson kept NCCU within one possession, 18-16, before the Roadrunners went on 12-2 run that spanned into the second quarter to race out to a double figure advantage.
 
CSUB extended that margin to 20 points, 45-25, at halftime as NCCU committed 16 turnovers in the first 20 minutes compared to just three mistakes by the Roadrunners.
 
Anderson started the second half just like the first in scoring five quick points as the Eagles slashed the 20-point deficit to eight points in the third quarter. White was also instrumental in NCCU's 20-8 rally to start the second half as she scored nine points during that rally.
 
A couple Eagle turnovers ended the rally and the Roadrunners were able to score the final six points of the quarter to reestablish a double-digit lead of 59-45 heading into the final frame.
 
NCCU once again fought back in the fourth quarter with a late 13-3 run. Afriyie scored nine of those points as the Eagles closed to within five. The maroon and gray had to foul with the clock against them and CSUB took advantage.
 
Senior Andre Easley made 10 of her 11 total free throw tries, including all four in the final minute on the way to 14 points for the victors. Easley also handed out five assists. Junior Vanessa Austin topped the Roadrunners with 15 points.
 
The Eagles shot a season-best 53.3-percent from the field, but committed a season-high 27 turnovers.
 
Edmundson finished with eight points and freshman Khadija Demry added six points.
 
NC Central (1-6) returns home to host Florida International University on Friday at 5 p.m.