DURHAM, N.C. — Five Eagles scored in double figures as the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team coasted to a 90-49 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference home win against South Carolina State University Saturday afternoon.
 
The 41-point victory is NCCU's biggest margin of victory in the programs NCAA Division I era (since 2007-08) and most lopsided conquest since toppling Saint Paul's College by 50 points, 94-44, on Nov. 16, 2004.
 
The Eagles also scored 90 points for the first time against a DI opponent. NCCU last reached 90 points in a 95-82 triumph over Fayetteville State University on Dec. 8, 2007.
 
NC Central (6-14 Overall, 3-4 MEAC) remained ahead of South Carolina St. (3-18, 2-6) in the league standings with Saturday's blowout win by shooting a season-best 59.3-precent from the field, including a precise 9-of-16 marksmanship from 3-point distance (56.3%).
 
The five Eagles to reach double digits in the scoring column were freshman forward Anissa Rivera, redshirt freshman guard Faith Williams, senior forward Paulina Afriyie, junior guard Kieche White and senior wing Theyoung Puoy.
 
Rivera swished all three of her 3-point attempts on the way to a game high 17 points. Williams poured in a career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Afriyie reached the 10-plus point plateau for an eighth straight game with 13 points. White scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Puoy joined Williams with a career-high performance, swishing 11 points.
 
Afriyie (nine rebounds), Rivera (eight rebounds) and Puoy (six rebounds) all flirted with double-doubles as NCCU controlled the backboards, 40-31.
 
The Eagles made over half of their shots in the first half to construct a 39-24 halftime advantage. Rivera swished a dozen points over the first 20 minutes and Williams followed with eight points at the midway point. Rivera and Williams both made a pair of 3-pointers as NCCU shot 55.6-percent from behind the arc in the first half.
 
Trailing by two early (8-6), NC Central scored 11 unanswered points to take over. Freshman Madalyn Anderson started the run with a trey and Afriyie followed with consecutive baskets to help the Eagles lead 19-12 after the first quarter.
 
NCCU put together another 11-0 run in the second quarter. Williams capped the flurry with a 3-pointer to give the Eagles their largest lead of the half, 35-16, at the 3:56 mark of the second quarter.
 
The Lady Bulldogs had no chance of making a comeback in the second half as NCCU made 11 of its 14 field goal attempt in the third quarter for a sizzling 78.6-percent. The Eagles would go on to outscore South Carolina St. 51-25 after in the intermission to win by 41 points.
 
Freshman guard Jayah Hicks led the visitors with a dozen points.
 
Nine total Eagles scored, including six points apiece by junior Zaria Atkins and freshmen Simone Edmundson and Khadija Demry. NCCU was credited with a season-best 22 assists on 35 made field goals, with Atkins pacing the distributors with five dimes.
 
NC Central concludes its three-game homestand when the Eagles host MEAC frontrunner Norfolk State University on Monday at 4 p.m.