BALTIMORE, Md. – Senior guard Kimeira Burks recorded her first career double-double at North Carolina Central University with game-high totals of 19 points and 12 rebounds in leading the Eagles to a 63-58 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road win at Morgan State University on Monday evening.
 
NCCU went into the final minute of play with a five-point edge and Burks came up with a big steal on Morgan State's ensuing possession before the Eagles made just enough free throws in the last 45 seconds to win by that same five-point margin.
 
The Eagles evened their overall record and are guaranteed a winning league record for the season with the series sweep of the Bears. NC Central (14-14 Overall, 8-5 MEAC) – picked sixth in the MEAC Preseason Order of Finish poll – moved into sole possession of third place in the league standings with the triumph and can clinch the third seed entering the 2024 MEAC Basketball Tournament with a win in their regular season finale at home on Thursday.  
 
Burks bucketed five 3-pointers on the way to her game-high 19 points while her 12 rebounds is a new career-high total.
 
Junior forward Morgan Callahan once again filled up the box score for the Eagles with 15 points, eight rebounds, four steals, two steals and one block. Classmate Aniya Finger led NCCU's reserves with 12 points.
 
After Morgan State jumped out to an early 9-4 edge, NCCU finished the first quarter on a 11-2 run to take a 15-11 advantage. Freshman Kyla Bryant scored five consecutive NCCU points during that run that put the Eagles ahead for the rest of the clash.  
 
NCCU shot 39.3 percent from the field in the first half while holding the Bears to just 27 percent accuracy to push the maroon and gray lead to 10 points, 35-25, at halftime. Bryant scored all nine of her points in the first half.
 
Burks scored the first basket of the third quarter to provide NCCU with its largest lead of the game (37-25), but Morgan State used a nine-point run after the media timeout to pull within one possession at 39-37. However, Callahan was able to score the next two baskets off offensive rebounds she pulled down to help keep the Eagles in front.
 
The Bears clawed to within three points a couple of times early in the fourth quarter, but Burks then swished back-to-back 3-pointers to supply NCCU with a little wiggle room. Burks scored eight points in an even 20-20 fourth quarter in which both teams seemed to just trade points down the stretch.
 
Finger half of her dozen points in the fourth quarter, including making a late layup on a successful press break that provided NCCU with its five-point lead heading into the final minute.
 
Morgan State (8-20, 3-10) had a couple chances to take a game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute, but decided to go for quick points inside and NCCU's defense came up big each time.
 
Senior Tippy Robertson, who led the Eagles with four assists, scored all three of her points from the free throw line in the final minute as MSU was forced to foul.
 
Senior Sedayjha Payne and freshman Tamaria Rumph each scored six points in the fourth quarter to help the Bears have a chance late. Payne finished with team-high totals of 13 points and four steals. Rumph settled for 11 points while matching Robertson with four assists.
 
NC Central will conclude its regular season by hosting South Carolina State University in a "Pink Out" game on Thursday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m.
 
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