DURHAM, N.C. – Four Eagles scored in double digits and junior Kira Lowery was North Carolina Central University's top playmaker with eight assists, but visiting Norfolk State was able to thwart several rallies by the Eagles to post an 80-70 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory on Monday in McDougald-McLendon Arena.  
 
Senior guard Camille Downs scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Spartans to the triumph in the league opener for both programs. Downs also had eight rebounds and three steals.
 
The Spartans led from the start and they pulled out to as big as a 14-point lead in each half. However, the Eagles kept the game interesting by closing the gap late each time.
 
Norfolk State (5-7 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) constructed its initial 14-point lead of 20-6 late in the first quarter as both teams were playing their first games in three weeks.
 
Freshman Diamond Thomas rallied the Eagles in the second quarter to close the gap to one possession at the intermission. Thomas, who did not score in the first quarter, bucketed 10 points over the next 10 minutes of play and NCCU outscored the visitors 24-17 in the period to slash the halftime deficit to 37-34.
 
Thomas finished with a team-high 18 points, including four made 3-pointers, to match her season-best scoring output.
 
The Eagles made 11 of their 14 free throw attempts in the first half, including six by senior Ashlyn Lockard to help counteract the scoring of Downs, who had nearly half of the Spartans' 37 first-half points with 18 points registered at the midway break.
 
After a close third period the Spartans were able to inch their lead back out to 14 points (56-52) with seven minutes left in regulation.
 
NCCU once again answered back with a 10-2 run to pull within six, 68-62, as the clock ticked under three minutes. The late comeback attempt started with a layup by Lockard on a nice pass bounce pass by sophomore Tianna Carter before Thomas added five points and was capped by a left baseline jumper by junior Nyasia Palmer.
 
However, Downs delivered the dagger with seven straight unanswered points over the next minute to reestablish a double-digit cushion that Norfolk State would not relinquish over the final two minutes.
 
Junior Deja Francis added 12 points and six assists for the victors. Freshman Makoye Diawara flirted with a double-double as she contributed nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Lockard bucketed 15 points while Carter and Palmer each deposited 10 points. Carter and Lockard paced the Eagles with eight and seven rebounds, respectively.
 
NC Central is next scheduled to play at MEAC rival South Carolina State University on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m.