CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The five North Carolina Central University starters accounted for every point for the Eagles in a narrow 65-59 road setback at the University of Chattanooga on Wednesday night.
 
Junior Morgan Callahan topped NCCU scorers with her second consecutive 15-point performance. The senior duo of Kimeira Burks and Tippy Robertson followed with 12 points apiece while freshman Kyla Bryant bucketed 11 points. Senior Kimia Carter, making her first start of the season in her hometown, chipped in nine points on 4 of 6 shooting from the field.
 
After Robertson scored a couple of baskets, Callahan swished her first hoop of the contest to give NCCU an early 8-3 advantage. However, the Mocs outscored NCCU by 15 points over the final seven minutes of the first quarter to take the lead for good. Sophomore Raven Thompson netted nine of her 15 points in the first quarter and Chattanooga constructed a 20-10 advantage after 10 minutes of play after closing the period on a 17-2 run.
 
The hosts maintained a double-digit cushion throughout most of the second quarter and led 36-25 at halftime before NCCU made things interesting in the second half.
 
Carter sank a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to momentarily inch the Eagles within five points, 46-41, but graduate student Jada Guinn poured in 10 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter to keep Chattanooga in front.
 
NCCU was able to close within two possessions a couple more times in the fourth quarter and the Eagles outscored the Mocs 34-29 in the second half, but Chattanooga shot 54.5 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes to hold off NCCU's rally.
 
Callahan and Robertson secured seven rebounds apiece for the visitors, but the Mocs outrebounded NCCU as a team by eight boards (35-27). Thompson completed a double-double for Chattanooga with a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
Robertson also had three assists for the maroon and gray while playing 39 minutes.
 
NCCU only committed 10 turnovers (second fewest of the season) despite having a depleted bench with just eight active players.
 
The defending Southern Conference (SoCon) champions improved to 6-1 at home with their fifth straight home win. Chattanooga (12-3 Overall) finished the game shooting 47.1 percent from the floor compared to 40 percent by the Eagles.
 
NC Central (5-9) will finally return home and begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play against Howard University on Saturday, Jan. 8, with tipoff now scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.