DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central was clutch down the stretch for the second straight game.

Kyla Bryant scored 22 points and Jada Tiggett and Morgan Callahan each recorded double-doubles as the Eagles surged late for a 76-71 MEAC women's basketball victory over Delaware State at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday.

Tiggett finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and three steals and Callahan added 12 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks for the Eagles, winners of their second straight game.

Shakiria Foster scored 12 points, including a three-pointer with 37 seconds left off Callahan's assist to put the Eagles ahead for good at 73-71. Foster's trey sparked a 6-0 run to finish the game.

The Eagles (2-2 MEAC, 4-14 overall) held the lead for 7:08 in the contest, but they held the Hornets to 38 percent shooting to take the victory.

"This was a really big game, and I felt like we wanted it more and we got it," Tiggett said. 

N.C. Central relied on defense to outscore Delaware State 24-14 in the fourth period to erase a six-point deficit. Tiggett played a role as well. Her three-pointer off Foster's assist gave the Eagles their first lead in the fourth period at 68-65 and energized the home crowd. The versatile Tiggett had seven points, one rebound, one steal and one block in the fourth period.

Delaware State (0-4 MEAC, 3-14 overall) re-took the lead at 69-68 but Bryant, the MEAC Co-Player of the Week, scored a layup over a defender for a 70-69 Eagles lead. The Hornets re-gained the lead once more on two free throws by Mahogany Cottingham but Foster's three-pointer spearheaded the game-winning run.

After losing two tight road games to start the MEAC schedule, the Eagles have finished strong in their two home wins. On Monday, they dressed nine players after suiting up eight in Saturday's double overtime win over Maryland Eastern Shore.

"We don't want to lose no more," Head Coach Terrance Baxter said. "If we can start the game like we finish, we'll get away from these close games. We are tired of beating ourselves. If you are going to beat us, you are going to have to do it. We are going to defend. We might have our flubs here and there but the team responds every time."

Cottingham scored 20 points and Kiarra MceIrath added 18 points for the Hornets, who led by as many as 10 in the first period. Bryant scored six points and Callahan added four points in the second period as the Eagles closed the deficit to 36-35 at the half. The Hornets increased their lead to 57-52 at the end of the third period and held a six-point fourth period lead before the Eagles started their comeback.

Aysia Hinton chipped in six points and four rebounds and Jada Creech added four points off the bench for the Eagles, who shot 46.8 percent overall including 61.5 percent in the fourth period.

The Eagles will take a break before visiting Pfeiffer on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. in Misenheimer, N.C. They return to conference play at home against South Carolina State on Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.