DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central staged a furious second-half rally but fell short 54-47 to UNC Greensboro in women's basketball action at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Wednesday morning.

Najah Lane scored 12 points and Morgan Callahan added 11 points for the Eagles (1-6). Dianna Blake finished with nine points and a season-high 11 rebounds, finishing one point away from a double-double. Blake added two blocks.

Trailing by 14 points in the third quarter, the Eagles came back to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Blake scored on a layup off Tierney Coleman's assist to put NCCU up 43-41, its first lead since scoring the game's first bucket.

With the score tied 45-45 in the last two minutes, UNCG (3-4), an NCAA Tourney participant last season, ended the contest with a 9-2 run.

NCCU shot 44 percent in the second half while holding UNCG to 22.2 percent in the final two quarters. The Eagles outscored the Spartans 28-14 in the second half.

For the contest, NCCU held the edge in shooting percentage (32.7 to 29.8), rebounding (40-39), bench points (19-7) and points in the paint (22-18). The Eagles buried 12 of 14 free throws for a season-high 85.7 percent.

But the Eagles could not overcome their miscues, committing 20 turnovers which led to a 15-1 UNCG advantage in turnover points.

Both teams struggled early to find their offensive rhythm. UNCG shot 29.4 percent but NCCU shot 15.4 percent as the Spartans led 12-8 after the first quarter.

The Spartans improved to 46.2 percent in the second quarter to open a 30-19 halftime lead. Down 33-19 in the third quarter, NCCU climbed back in the game on a 14-2 run, including a 10-0 spurt. The Eagles trailed 35-33 on Callahan's free throw and entered the fourth quarter down 39-35 before making their final push.

NEXT UP
The Eagles are back in action next Tuesday (Dec. 2) against archrival North Carolina A&T inside McDougald-McLendon Arena at 6:30 p.m.

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