DURHAM, N.C. — Rodneysha Martin scored a game-high 20 points and Caira Benton tallied nine points as the two North Carolina Central University seniors lifted the Eagles to a 77-65 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) women's basketball victory over Savannah State University Saturday afternoon in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Martin and Benton were honored by their coaches, teammates and the NCCU athletics administration before tipoff. Martin, who is from Olive Branch, Mississippi, is an All-MEAC honoree and has played in over 100 games for the maroon and gray. Benton is a junior college transfer from Duarte, California, who played in her 50th game for the Eagles on Saturday.
 
Benton swished a 3-pointer just five seconds into play and the Eagles never trailed. NCCU started the coast-to-coast win with an 11-0 run that included a pair of baskets by freshman Ashlyn Lockard and capped on a jumper by Martin at the 4:24 mark of the first quarter.
 
NCCU shot 55.6-percent from the field and held Savannah State to just 23.5-percent over the first 10 minutes to pull out to a 24-9 advantage after one quarter.
 
The Lady Tigers, who missed their first six shot and committed six turnovers during the initial 11-0 run by NCCU, were able to cut the halftime deficit to seven points, 35-28, as they shot better and the Eagles cooled off. Savannah State made half of their shots in the second quarter and NCCU was limited to just three hoops on 20 attempts (15%) over that span.
 
Nine different Eagles scored in the contest and sophomore Kieche White was NCCU's catalyst in the third quarter. White scored the first basket of the second half and netted eight of her 12 points in the period as the hosts' extended back to double digits at 12 (60-48) heading into the fourth quarter. The Eagles maintained at least a three-possession cushion throughout the final 10 minutes before winning by a dozen points.
 
Junior forward Paulina Afriyie had a strong performance in the post for the Eagles. Afriyie notched her ninth double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-tying 17 rebounds. Afriyie was stellar from the free throw line, making 11 of 13 attempts from the charity stripe, while also supplying five assists and four steals.
 
NCCU committed a season-low 14 fouls and outrebounded Savannah State, 47-41. The Eagles also protected the ball well with just 11 turnovers while their nine steals helped NCCU to a 20-8 edge on points off turnovers.
 
Sophomore Zaria Atkins chipped in seven points and five assists.
 
NC Central will host MEAC rival South Carolina State University in its last home game of the season on Monday at 4 p.m.