DURHAM, N.C. – The inside tandem of Aniya Finger and Morgan Callahan both posted double-doubles and North Carolina Central pulled away late from UNC Asheville 66-53 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Thursday for its season's first women's basketball win.

Finger finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Callahan added 13 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six steals. 

It was the first time an Eagles' duo both recorded double-doubles since last season when both Callahan and former player Jada Tiggett each reached double figures in points and rebounds in a victory over Delaware State on Jan 13, 2025.

For Callahan, this was the 20^th double-double of her career and the second time both her and Finger had double-doubles in the same game.

The Eagles (1-2) leaned on both players and a stifling defense that pressured the Bulldogs (1-2) into 28.3 percent shooting and 31 turnovers which led to 27 NCCU points.

The frontcourt duo keyed the Eagles in a choppy contest that featured 55 combined fouls. Both teams struggled to get into their offensive flow but the Eagles finished with a flourish in the last five minutes, outscoring the Bulldogs 18-7 to turn a two-point lead into a double-digit win.

Victoria Morris and Najah Lane nearly had double-doubles for the Eagles. Morris finished with nine points and eight rebounds and Lane had eight points and seven assists. Aysia Hinton matched Morris with nine points.

The Eagles, who led all but the game's first three minutes, held leads of more than 10 points at times but couldn't put away UNC Asheville. NCCU shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 14.3 percent (2 of 14) behind the three-point arc, but connected on 28 of 39 free throw attempts for 71.8 percent.

The Bulldogs were 24 of 38 from the charity stripe for 63.2 percent and were 27.3 percent (3 of 11) from three-point land.

Callahan nearly had a double-double in the first half with eight points and seven rebounds in addition to four steals as the Eagles spurted late in the second period for a 13-point lead.

The Bulldogs responded with seven straight points to cut the Eagles' lead to 26-20 at the half.

The Eagles shot 29 percent and the Bulldogs shot 23 percent in the first half but NCCU scored 13 points on 17 UNCA turnovers.

NCCU led after the first period and at halftime for the first time in three games this season.

NCCU HEAD COACH TERRENCE BAXTER QUOTE
"I loved our defense, how we came out and defended. I thought we shut them down in the first half, and I was proud of our effort on defense. We forced 17 turnovers at halftime and I challenged them. I said they couldn't make [UNCA] turn it over 30 times, and they forced 31. I was so happy to get this win. They knew what it meant to me and they went out there and got it. If Morgan Callahan, Aniya Finger and Dianna Blake are playing well, we are going to be tough to beat any night."

NEXT UP
The Eagles will play at home for the third consecutive game on Tuesday, Nov. 18, against the College of Charleston at McDougald-McLendon Arena. Tipoff is 5 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.