Baltimore, Md.--SC State scored 50 second-half points en route to its 83-74 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over Morgan State. With the win, the Lady Bulldogs, who picked up its second win in a row, improved to 10- 4 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Senior guard
Tiara Knotts scored 10 of her game-high 15 points in the second half. She also pulled in eight rebounds with three assists, one block and four steals. Sophomore center Persephone “Ci-Ci” Goodwin was equally as effective in the paint scored all 10 of her points in the second half while pulling in seven rebounds with two blocks.
Morgan State was led by Bianca Jarrett with 14 points. Whitney Southerland dropped in 13 while Amarah Williams contributed eight points with seven rebounds for the Lady Bears, who dropped to 4-11 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC.
SC State got off to a rocky start allowing Morgan to open the contest on a 6-0 run. The Lady Bulldogs quickly rebounded pulling within two, at 6-4. Morgan managed to withstand the mini run by SC State, and pushed its lead to six once again, 16-10, with 12:37 remaining in the half. A 5-0 run by the Lady Bulldogs over the next two minutes cut the Lady Bears deficit to one, 16-15, with just over 10 minutes remaining. Morgan quickly regained the momentum using a 12-2 run over the next five plus minutes to take its biggest lead of the game, 12 -- 29-17, with 5:15 remaining. The Lady Bulldogs closed the half on a 16-4 run to head into intermission tied at 33-33.
SC State kept the momentum to open the second half. Sophomore “Ci-Ci” Goodwin hit two free-throws at the 19:49 mark of the half to give SC State its first lead of the contest, 35-33. The free-throws by Goodwin sparked a 10-4 run and gave the Lady Bulldogs an eight point lead, 46-38, with 14:59 remaining. SC State's offense was hitting on all cylinders as they increased their lead to 14, 55-41, with less than 12 minutes remaining. Morgan continued to battle as they cut the lead to eight, 55-47, off a 6-0 run. SC State's offense would not ease up as they used 15-5 run of their own to take its biggest lead of the game, 70-52, with 6:47 remaining in the contest. The Lady Bears would cut the lead to eight, 68-76, late in the contest but could not get any closer, falling by nine, 83-74.
“It's always good to get a conference win but to get a conference win on the road is even better,” said fifth year head coach Doug Robertson. “With the addition of Ashley (Clarke) at the point guard position, we were able to shift some folk around and distribute the ball more.” Robertson continued, “I think once she (Clarke) gets a couple of games under her belt she will be able to contribute even more.”
Clarke was very effective at the point guard position scoring 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists in her first game as a Lady Bulldog. Senior guard
Trinese Fox continue to contribute greatly off the bench with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.
SC State will remain in Baltimore, when they travel across town to take on the Lady Eagles of Coppin State on Monday (Jan. 14). The Lady Bulldogs will return next Saturday, Jan. 19 when they host Bethune-Cookman in the first of three straight home MEAC matchups. SC State will host Florida A&M (Jan. 21) and Savannah State on Jan. 26.
