DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman guard Kyla Bryant made a season-high five 3-pointers and junior forward Morgan Callahan netted her second consecutive double-double to highlight play for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in an 81-60 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) home loss to Norfolk State University on Monday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Bryant paced the Eagles with 17 points, her 10th consecutive double-digit scoring performance. Callahan totaled 10 points and yanked down a team-high 10 rebounds on the way to her fourth double-double of the season.
 
In only her second game of the season and first since Nov. 14, junior forward Aniya Finger led NCCU's reserves with 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Spartans led the whole game, but NCCU did a good job protecting the ball in the first half against a Norfolk State squad that leads the MEAC and ranks 16th nationally in turnover margin. The Eagles only committed six turnovers before halftime and were trailing by just eight points, 33-25, at the intermission. Callahan already had eight points and six points at halftime.
 
However, NCCU committed 12 turnovers in the third quarter and the visitors took advantage by more than doubling up the Eagles, 33-16, on the scoreboard over that span to pull away.
 
Norfolk State (12-4 Overall, 2-0 MEAC) – the defending MEAC champions – won its fifth consecutive game while handing NCCU (6-10, 1-1) its first home loss of the campaign.
 
Junior point guard Diamond Johnson filled up the box score for the Spartans with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. NSU had five players score in double digits, including a game- and season-high 18 points by freshman guard Da'Brya Clark, who also had a season-high five steals. Junior forward Kierra Wheeler added 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
The Spartans finished with a 53-37 rebounding advantage, including a 26-5 surplus on second-chance points on 21 offensive rebounds.
 
Senior Tippy Robertson tallied nine points, five rebounds and five assists for the maroon and gray. Juniors Janiah Jones and Sydney Avoletta added seven and six points, respectively.
 
NC Central will next host North Carolina Wesleyan University in its last non-conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
 
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