DURHAM, N.C. – Five Eagles scored in double figures and the North Carolina Central University defense held strong in the final few seconds to preserve a 66-65 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Morgan State University on Monday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Junior forward Aniya Finger made a go-ahead free throw with 14 seconds left in regulation for what turned out to be the winning point for the Eagles. Morgan State missed two ensuing shot attempts in the final 10 seconds and still had the ball for an inbound play with 2.1 seconds set on the clock. Sophomore Gabrielle Johnson received the ball, drove the left lane, and went up for a shot as time was expiring. The ball went through the hoop, but the referees never indicated a countable shot and after an extensive video review determined she did not get the shot off in time before the final buzzer.
 
NC Central (11-11 Overall, 5-2 MEAC) leveled its season record after winning its third straight game as well as its third consecutive home game. The Eagles have won five of their last six games while improving their home ledger to 7-1.
 
Junior forward Morgan Callahan contributed game-high totals of 17 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Callahan played over 39 minutes and scored five of NCCU's nine points in the fourth quarter.
 
Finger followed with 15 points and eight rebounds as Callahan and Finger helped the hosts to a 43-36 rebounding advantage. Freshman Kyla Bryant netted 12 points while seniors Kimeira Burks and Tippy Robertson each tallied 10 points.
 
The Bears held a slim lead for most of the first half, including a six-point lead of 30-24 going into the under 5-minute media timeout of the second quarter. However, the Eagles held Morgan State scoreless for the rest of the period and NCCU rattled off 15 unanswered points to take a 39-30 advantage at halftime. Burks scored all 10 of her points in a row to start that decisive surge and she matched Callahan with 10 points at the intermission.
 
The Eagles extended their advantage to double digits on several occasions in the second half before the Bears clawed back with an incredible 16-3 run late to tie the score with 16 seconds left in regulation. Senior Anjanae Mueck scored six points during that span and two made free throws by freshman Amari Smith capped the rally and leveled the score for the only time in the half.
 
Mueck and Smith led the visitors with 15 points apiece.
 
Finger drew a foul moments after Smith knotted up the score and she made the second of two free throw attempts to regain the lead for the Eagles and force the Bears into their stressful shots in the final moments that missed their marks before the dramatic late attempt by Johnson.
 
Robertson filled up the box score for the maroon and gray, adding eight assists and six rebounds to her 10 points.
 
NC Central is in a three-way tie for second place in the league standings at the midway point of conference play and the Eagles will begin the second half with a road trip to Howard University (Washington, D.C.) for a showdown with the Bison on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.