Morgan Callahan vs. Norfolk State 2026 2
Doug Burt
NCCU Standout Forward Morgan Callahan Played Her Final Game Inside McDougald-McLendon Arena
41
South Carolina St. SCSt 5-24,2-11 MEAC
67
Winner N.C. Central NCCU 9-19,5-9 MEAC
South Carolina St. SCSt
5-24,2-11 MEAC
41
Final
67
N.C. Central NCCU
9-19,5-9 MEAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
South Carolina St. SCSt 16 1 11 13 41
N.C. Central NCCU 16 11 20 20 67

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | NCCU Athletic Communications

Eagles Trounce S.C. State For Ninth Straight Time in Emotional Regular-Season Finale

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central's last regular-season basketball game felt like Senior Day all over again.

Five graduate Eagles likely played their last contest inside McDougald-McLendon Arena, and they made the most of every minute in a 67-41 NCCU women's basketball rout of South Carolina State on Thursday afternoon. The win was the Eagles' ninth straight over the Bulldogs.

NCCU (5-9 MEAC, 9-19 overall) officially celebrated basketball senior day against Coppin State on Feb. 14, but this contest carried the emotional weight of a regular-season finale for the team's veterans.

"I couldn't have asked for a better school and career," said NCCU standout graduate forward Morgan Callahan, the program's career scoring leader in the Division I era with 1,358 points. "I am super grateful to have come to Central. It is bittersweet being this my last home game."

The 26-point victory was the Eagles' largest margin in a MEAC game this season by 12 points. Every player scored, with Callahan leading a balanced attack with nine points. Natalie Jasper, Aniya Finger and Nia Young each added eight points while Najah Lane and Tierney Coleman each chipped in seven points.

South Carolina State (2-11 MEAC, 5-24 overall) led early briefly but the Eagles ramped up the defensive pressure in the second quarter. They outscored the Bulldogs 11-1 to seize a 27-17 halftime lead. The margin increased to 21 points in the third quarter and 28 points (65-37) in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs, who played NCCU close in a three-point home loss two weeks ago, got no closer than 16 points in the final quarter.

"Coming out the huddle after the first quarter, we talked about how we had to get a lead," Callahan said. "We knew it had to start on defense."

The Bulldogs struggled against the Eagles' nationally ranked defense, making 12 of 61 attempts for 19.7 percent, a season-low for an NCCU opponent this season.

Meanwhile, the Eagles made 43.3 percent from the floor, their third-highest mark in a MEAC game this season. They dominated in several categories including points in the paint 40-16, fastbreak points 21-10 and bench points 35-9.

With all eight teams entering the MEAC Tournament with a clean slate next week, NCCU Head Coach Terrence Baxter feels the Eagles have as good a chance as anybody. Nationally, NCCU is 13th in causing turnovers, 14th in free throw attempts, 15th in bench points and 46th in steals among Division I teams.

"We are going to lean on defense and rebounding," Coach Baxter said. "Every time we did that, we got a W. If we control the backboard and defend like we are supposed to, we will have a chance to win every single night. We can control the game from the defensive side of the floor, and that is what we are going to do [in the tournament]."

But first, Coleman reflected on her final home appearance.

"There is no other place I would have wanted to finish college," said Coleman, a graduate guard, choking up. "I enjoyed my time here. I am so grateful to be able to play with my teammates and to play for Coach Bax."

NEXT UP
With the regular season completed, the Eagles will travel to Norfolk, Va., for the MEAC Tournament, which will be held May 11-14.

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