DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central began the first of a three-game homestand with a 58-44 MEAC women's basketball win over Delaware State at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday.

It took a quarter for the Eagles to find their rhythm but an 18-1 run that stretched through two quarters put the Hornets away.

"We got off to a slow start but we eased our way right into the way we want to play," NCCU Head Coach Terrence Baxter said. "I'm proud of my ladies for getting this win and we got two more to get this week."

Trailing 19-17 in the second quarter, Aysia Hinton, who set the program single-game three-point record with 12 last week, began the spurt with a three-pointer. Aniya Finger capped the run with a layup for a 35-20 lead. The Eagles' defense stymied the Hornets into 0-4 shooting and five turnovers during the spurt.

The Eagles weren't through, however. Their lead ballooned to 55-32 after an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter.

Finger scored 16 points and added 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double in MEAC games. She scored 14 points over the taller Hornets' frontline on 5 of 6 shooting in the pivotal third quarter.

"Aniya has been picking us up big time," Baxter said. "We bring Aniya off the bench so she can't get in early foul trouble."

Jasper scored a career-high 13 points of 4 of 7 shooting.

"Natalie has been big for us right before Christmas break until now," Baxter said. "When she stops thinking, she is tough to guard and she is a great defender as well."

"Going into this game, I felt like I had to sort of get my get-back," Jasper said. "I felt like last game, I didn't show up. I wasn't my same self offensively and defensively. I told Coach Bax that is not going to happen again."

Hinton contributed eight points, including two three-pointers, and five rebounds and Dianna Blake totaled six points, five rebounds and three blocks, which tied a career high for her.
"We set the tone on defense with Dianna," Baxter said. "Dianna is going to always defend and rebound. That is what she specializes in. She controls the middle. That's what she has been doing all year."

The inside trio of Finger, Blake and Morgan Callahan (8 rebounds) won the rebounding battle 46-36 over a huge Delaware State frontcourt featuring two forwards standing 6-2 and 6-3.

"We realized we had to push them off the block," Blake said. "They weren't really shooting the ball so as long as they weren't close to the basket, we were good."

The Eagles limited Delaware State to 30.2 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers. NCCU shot 32.1 percent but was 17 of 24 from the free throw line for 70.8 percent.
"Our defense and rebounding set the tone for the rest of the day," Baxter said.

NEXT UP
The Eagles are back at home on Thursday, Feb. 12, against Morgan State at 6:30 p.m. They will be looking to avenge a 64-63 loss to Morgan State in Baltimore last month.

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