ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Junior guard
Kira Lowery scored a season-high 12 points to lead the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 63-51 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss at South Carolina State University on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs held the Eagles to just 10 points in the first half and road a 27-point halftime lead to their first victory of the season in their conference opener. South Carolina State (1-14 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) dominated the glass with a 45-29 rebounding advantage while holding NCCU to just 21.8-percent shooting from the field to snap a 19-game losing streak that dates back to December of 2020.
Lowery had the best shooting touch from the floor for the Eagles, making half of her shot attempts on the way to her first double-digit scoring game of the campaign. Lowery's six rebounds, three steals and two assists were also team-best totals.
Sophomore
Tianna Carter was the only other Eagle to score in double figures, making all eight of her free throw attempts on the way to 10 points. Carter also had five rebounds and three steals.
Other than Lowery, junior
Madalyn Anderson was the only other NCCU player to make more than one field as she finished with seven points. Anderson sank NCCU's lone made 3-pointer as the Eagles shot just 8.3-percent from three-point distance.
After being held to just 10 points over the first 20 minutes of play, NCCU outscored the Lady Bulldogs 41-26 in the second half. However, SCSU was able to maintain a comfortable lead to pick up the coast-to-coast win.
Senior
Ashlyn Lockard made her only field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter to briefly pull the Eagles within nine points, 46-37, but the Lady Bulldogs rattled off the next eight points to push back out to a double-digit cushion for the remainder of play.
Lockard, who made seven free throws, finished with nine points.
The Eagles made 26 of their 40 total free throw tries as more than half of their points came from the charity stripe.
Freshman Nicole Gwynn led the victors with a season- and career-high 26 points.
NC Central (1-10 Overall, 0-2 MEAC) is next slated to play a rescheduled home game against MEAC foe Coppin State University on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
