BALTIMORE, Md. — Junior guard Kieche White scored a season-high 26 points and senior Paulina Afriyie netted another double-double for visiting North Carolina Central University in an 86-79 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss at Morgan State University Monday evening in Hill Field House.
 
The Bears outscored the Eagles 26-14 in the third quarter to take the lead for good. NCCU pulled within one possession three times in the fourth quarter, but Morgan State was able to score the next points each time to remain in front before settling for the seven-point win.
 
Morgan State (12-12 Overall, 8-3 MEAC) took advantage of 35 free throw opportunities, making 26 of them for a 74.3-percent clip, to seal the triumph.
 
NC Central (7-16, 4-6) was unable to win a third straight league road game, despite leading for most of the first half. The Eagles had one of their best shooting performances at 53.6-percent, but they committed 17 turnovers compared to just eight by the hosts. The Bears turned the 17 NCCU miscues into 19 extra points.
 
White paced all players with 26 points. She went 10-of-15 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point distance, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. White's season-high scoring outburst was just two points shy of her career-high mark of 28 points (at Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 22, 2018).
 
Afriyie's second straight double-double was her eighth of the season and 25th of her career. She totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Sophomore Jasmine Pollock chipped in nine points for the Eagles. Freshman Anissa Rivera was filling up the box score with five points, seven rebounds and three blocks before fouling out.
 
The Eagles started the contest on a 10-4 run, including six points by Afriyie, by making five of their first six shot attempts for 83.3-percent precision. A bunch of free throws helped Morgan State take a brief lead, but NCCU kept its hot hand in the first quarter to lead 24-20 after 10 minutes of play. The Eagles shot 52.6-percent (10-19) from the floor in the period, but the Bears stayed within four by making all 12 of their free throws over that span.
 
NC Central took nine less shots in the second quarter due to increased turnovers, but the Eagles were able to convert on six of those 10 attempts (60%) to stay in front 41-38 at halftime. Junior Dahnye Redd led all players at the intermission with 14 points to keep Morgan State within one possession.
 
Redd led the Bears with 21 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.
 
White and Afriyie accounted for nearly half of NCCU's offensive production in the first half with 11 and nine points, respectively, on a combined 75-percent field goal accuracy.
 
A 3-pointer by Pollock reestablished NCCU's largest lead of six points, 44-38, to begin the third quarter. However, a trio of trey's by MSU sparked a 20-3 over the next six minutes. Two consecutive layups by senior Jihayah Chavis, who tallied 13 points and six assists, capped the comeback as the Bears pulled out to a double-digit advantage, 58-47.
 
The Bears continued to lead 64-55 after three quarters and then was able to match each of NCCU's rallies in the fourth. Senior Chelsea Mitchell contributed 20 points, six rebounds and five steals for Morgan State, and came up with two big layups after the Eagles pulled within two points a couple times midway through the final frame.
 
NC Central concludes a three-game MEAC road swing at archrival North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday at 4 p.m.