DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central played Howard nearly even for three quarters in its women's basketball matchup at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday.
But the second quarter was the Eagles' undoing on Senior Day.
Howard outscored NCCU 25-5 in the second quarter en route to a 74-51 MEAC victory. The loss dropped the Eagles to 8-19 overall and 5-7 in the MEAC while Howard upped its record to 18-9 and 11-1.
"One quarter beat us," NCCU Head Coach
Terrence Baxter said. "We lost that quarter by 20 and we pretty much played [Howard] even the other three quarters. We had great, great looks but didn't knock 'em down today. When you play good teams, they don't let you come back."
The Eagles were 1 for 12 in the second quarter with the only field goal coming on
Kyla Bryant's jumper with 18 seconds left before halftime. The second-quarter push by the Bison broke a 10-10 first-quarter tie and gave Howard a 35-15 halftime lead.
Overall, the Eagles shot 24.6 percent which tied for their second lowest shooting output this season. They turned the ball over 32 times.
Howard was frigid from the floor as well. The Bison shot 30.2 percent but held a huge advantage in turnover points (34-9), points in the paint (30-12) and second chance points (17-9).
One play typified how the game went for the Eagles. Bryant hit the first of two free throws to cap a 6-0 run late in the third quarter. Her second free throw bounced around the rim before sitting on the back iron motionless.
Bryant finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles.
Tierney Coleman scored eight points and
Morgan Callahan amassed 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals to go with six points.
Jada Tiggett blocked six shots and Creech pulled down seven rebounds off the bench.
Destiny Howell paced Howard with 21 points on 5 of 10 three-point shooting. She added four steals.
After the contest, three Eagles –
Janiah Jones,
Nijah Cunningham and Coleman – were recognized on Senior Day.
The Eagles look to bounce back against two-time defending MEAC champion Norfolk State in their home finale on Monday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. ESPN+ will livestream the game.
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