WILMINGTON, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team used a big first quarter to jump out to a double-digit lead and then held off host UNC Wilmington for a 70-65 road victory on Thursday afternoon.
 
Freshman Kyla Bryant led the Eagles offense with a game-high 20 points and classmate Jada Tiggett notched her second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while senior Kimeira Burks netted 13 points. Tiggett, who is the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, also supplied four blocks. Bryant and Burks each swished a trio of 3-pointers while leading the team with a combined nine steals.
 
NCCU made half of its shots in the first 10 minutes while holding the Seahawks to 28.6 percent shooting from the field to jump out to a 21-10 advantage. The Eagles aggressive defense also forced UNCW into 10 of its 28 total turnovers in the first quarter to fly out to the double-digit cushion.
 
The Eagles held leads of 29-22 at halftime and 52-41 at the end of the third quarter before the Seahawks pulled to within four points midway through the fourth quarter. However, Tiggett made a couple of baskets as NCCU scored six unanswered points to extend its lead back out to 10 points before settling for the five-point margin of victory.
 
NCCU's rookies were key down the stretch with Tiggett scoring seven points in the fourth quarter while Bryant bucketed six points over that same stretch.
 
Senior Tippy Robertson chipped in seven points and she matched sophomore Ray'ven Robinson with four assists as the maroon and gray shot 40.3 percent from the floor.
 
NCCU improved to 5-7 on the season while UNCW dipped to 2-8.
 
The Seahawks had a pair of double-double performances by freshman guard Taylor Henderson (19 points, 10 rebounds) and freshman Kyla Silver (17 points, 11 rebounds). Senior Evan Miller (15 points, nine rebounds) was one board short of her own double-double.
 
NC Central is next scheduled to play at Furman University on New Year's Eve with tipoff against the Paladins slated for 1 p.m.
 
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