DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore Aniya Finger netted a double-double to pace the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in an 82-41 non-conference home victory over North Carolina Wesleyan University on Tuesday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Finger had a hot hand on the way to scoring a season-high 21 points, making eight of her 11 shot attempts from the field and all five of her free throws. Finger completed in second collegiate double-double in just her fourth game with 10 rebounds.
 
The Eagles had a total of three double-digit scorers with both junior Blessing Okoh and freshman Jerni Kiaku pouring in 10 points. Okoh, who has scored 10-plus points in three consecutive contests, also had five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
 
Senior Kira Lowery swished a pulled-up jump shot just 10 seconds into the game to put the Eagles ahead from the start. NCCU shot 70.6 percent (12-17) from the field in the first quarter to construct a commanding 29-8 advantage after 10 minutes of play. The Eagles maintained a double-digit cushion the rest of the way, including a 47-23 cushion at halftime and a 63-34 advantage after the third quarter.
 
All 10 active players scored for the maroon and gray, including nine different Eagles by halftime.
 
NCCU forced the Battling Bishops into 34 turnovers, resulting in 35 extra points for the Eagles. The hosts controlled the interior part of the game as NCCU finished with a 44-36 rebounding edge and outscored the visitors 54-22 inside the paint. NCCU also scored 28 points on the fast break.
 
Junior Kimeira Burks contributed nine points on a trio of made 3-pointers while adding six assists and four rebounds; sophomore Morgan Callahan tallied with eight points and five rebounds; Lowery finished with seven points and three assists; junior Tippy Robertson filled up the box score with four points, six rebounds, four steals, and two assists; and sophomore Sydney Avoletta had matching totals of six points and six rebounds.
 
Juniors Areina Harris and Nadia Simmons led NCWU with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
NC Central next hosts Elon University on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.