GREENVILLE, S.C. – Senior guard Kimeira Burks and junior forward Morgan Callahan shot over 50 percent from the field to combine for 36 points and pace the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 73-63 road loss at Furman University on Sunday afternoon.
 
Burks scored a game-high 21 points while Callahan filled up the box score with 15 points, four rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Paladins outscored the Eagles 44-27 in the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit and secure their fifth consecutive home victory. Furman (9-6 Overall) made eight of its nine 3-pointers in the second half to help complete the comeback.
 
Burks hit all five of her 3-pointers in the first half, including several deep treys well beyond the arc, to help the Eagles take leads of 20-16 at the end of the first quarter and 36-29 at halftime. She led all players with 17 points at the midway point. Callahan netted nine first-half points as that due combined for 26 of NCCU's first 36 points.
 
Furman started the second half on a 13-4 run to pull back ahead by two points with junior Nijah Cunningham accounting for all four of NCCU's points over that slow start to the third quarter. Senior Tippy Robertson hit a 3-pointer to momentarily give the Eagles the lead back for the last time, but the Paladins scored the next seven points on the way to constructing a 53-47 lead into the fourth quarter. Furman won that 10-minute period by a 24-11 margin.
 
NCCU got to within one possession one last time early in the fourth quarter, but the Paladins scored 13 unanswered points from that point to pull out to a 15-point lead before setting for the 10-point win.
 
Furman finished with a 49-33 rebounding advantage and four Paladins reached double-digit points. Sophomore Sydney Ryan topped the victors with 16 points, including four made triples.
 
Freshman Kyla Bryant supplied the maroon and gray with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bryant has now scored 10-plus points in seven straight contests.
 
NC Central will conclude its nine-game road swing by starting the New Year at the University of Chattanooga on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.