Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC –  The South Carolina State women had four players in double figures Saturday, but it was not enough as the Lady Bulldogs could not overcome a slow start and poor shooting in losing 81-63 to North Carolina Central on Senior Day.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Coach Doug Robertson's team, which honored two seniors winding up their careers – leading scorer Bryeasha Blair and part-time starter Regina Garrett, both guards.

Blair and junior center Jasmine Williams both had 14 points to lead SC State in the loss. Kemoni Jenkins added 13 and Esther Udonsi 12 in the setback, which dropped the Lady Bulldogs to 9-17 and 4-10 in the MEAC.

Garrett finished with four points for SC State which was led on the boards by Williams with seven and Jenkins with six.
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The Lady Eagles, who climbed to 8-19 and 6-8 in the league, were paced  by Rodneysha Martin with 19 points and Kieche White with 16, including a 4-8 showing from beyond the arc. Jayla Calhoun contributed 11 and Paulina Afriyie 10 in the win.

Caira Benton had just two points in the contest by grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for NCCU, which enjoyed a 50-39 advantage on the boards, The visitors also had a big edge in shooting percentage, converting on 49.2 percent (32-65) of their attempts from the field, including 10-23 three-point baskets.

The Lady Bulldogs connected on just 31.9 percent (22-69) of their shots from the field and were 0-6 from three-point range. SC State also struggled from the foul line, making just 19-34 attempts.

SC State, which has been hampered by slow starts all season, dug a hole early, falling behind 15-2 with 5:47 left in the first period. A 7-0 run sliced the NCCU lead to 15-9 when  Garrett completed a three-point play with 3:38 showing, but the visitors scored 11 of the final eight points of the period to take a 23-12 advantage after one period.

The Lady Eagles led 43-28 at the half after outscoring 20-16 in the second period. The final 20 minutes were closely contest as NCCU won the third quarter by just two points – 21-19 and took the final period just 17-16; however, the large deficit SC State faced from the start, which stretched to as many as 23 points in the final four minute, was too much to overcome.

SC State returns to the court Monday when Robertson's team travels to Tallahassee, FL for an MEAC doubleheader, beginning at 6 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs close out the regular season at home Thursday against Savannah State in the first game of a doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m.