Box Score DURHAM, NC—Morgan Jones scored a game-high 19 points to lead North Carolina Central to a 52-41 victory over South Carolina State Saturday (Feb.11) at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

South Carolina State falls to 5-17 overall and 2-9 in the MEAC, while NCCU improves to 5-17 overall 4-6 in the league. The Lady Bulldogs wereled by Bryeasha Blair with 15 points and four rebounds, while Brittany Drumgoole added 11 in the loss.

Freshman guard/forward Schekinah Bimpa returned from injury to lead SC State in rebounding with a game-high 11 rebounds and four points. Sophomore forward JaQuanna Murray had a solid performance on the defensive side with three blocks, six rebounds and four points.

Despite the game-high 25 turnovers, SC State led in several categories such as points in the paint (20-14), bench points (21-14) and total rebounds (46-40).

The Lady Bulldogs led majority of the first half jumping out to an eight-point lead, 20-12, off a layup by Blair at the 8:50 mark in the second quarter. NCCU's Jada Blow nailed a jumper with 1:42 remaining in intermission to cut the lead to five, 22-17. Blair responded once again on a driving layup to push the lead back to seven. The Lady Bulldogs led 24-17 over the Lady Eagles at halftime.

In the second half, NCCU came out roaring sparking an 12-2 run off a pair of free-throws followed by a layup by Jones to give the Lady Eagles the lead 29-26 at the 5:48 mark in the third quarter. A jumper by Rodneysha Martin extended NCCU's margin to 10, 39-29, with 2:04 remaining in the quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs would get as close as nine, 44-35, off a jumper by Drumgoole late in the fourth quarter. Once again turnovers hurt SC State down the stretch as NCCU built their biggest lead 15, 50-35, on a pair of free-throws by Erin Houser from the charity stripe.

North Carolina Central held on to post a 52-41 victory over visiting SC State. Dominique Adams added nine points and Blow finished with eight points and four rebounds in the win for the Lady Eagles.

Next up the Lady Bulldogs take on MEAC rival North Carolina A&T on Monday (Feb. 13) in a pivotal league showdown in Greensboro, NC, before heading to Virginia to take on the Norfolk State on Wednesday (Feb. 15) with both contests beginning in a 5:30 p.m. start.

For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.