MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior guard Kira Lowery scored a career-high 22 points in her hometown to pace the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 92-66 loss at University of Memphis on Thursday night.
 
Lowery swished nine of her 20 field goal attempts (45%) on the way to her 22 points. Lowery, who had scored 40 points in a game at the juco level, returned to Memphis to score her most points in three seasons playing at the NCAA Division I level. Lowery also had four rebounds, three assists and two steals in her return home.
 
The Tigers snapped a three-game skid to move back over .500 on the season after shooting a season-high 52.4 percent from the field.
 
Memphis (5-4 Overall) never trailed in the contest, but seven first-quarter points by sophomore Morgan Callahan helped keep the Eagles within four points, 26-22, after 10 minutes of play. NCCU shot 62.5 percent from the field in the opening period.
 
Callahan finished with nine points.
 
Lowery made a pullup jumper at the 7:39 mark of the second quarter to inch the Eagles within one possession, 31-29, before the Tigers finished the second stanza on a 24-6 run to race out to a 20-point advantage, 55-35, at halftime.
 
Memphis kept at least a 17-point cushion throughout the second half and led by as many as 31 before prevailing by 26 points. The Tigers finished with at 50-33 rebounding surplus.
 
Fifth-year guard Jamirah Shutes led the victors with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
NCCU freshman Jerni Kiaku chipped in 11 points for her fifth double-digit performance in her first 10 collegiate contests. Junior Tippy Robertson tallied eight points and a team-best four assists. Junior Blessing Okoh added seven points and a game-high eight rebounds.
 
NC Central (3-7 Overall) will next return home to host Appalachian State University on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.