HOUSTON, Texas -Norfolk State pulled away in the second half thanks to some cold shooting from Texas Southern in a 80-58 win over the Tigers in the Spartans' season opener at H&PE Arena Friday morning.

In one of the earliest tip-offs of the entire 2011-12 college basketball season, 11 a.m. CST, NSU fell behind by one at the half, 40-39. The Tigers, though, made just one basket in the last 11 minutes of the game and NSU's fast-tempo, scorching offense allowed the Spartans to earn the big win.

Sophomore Rae Corbo tallied a career-high 16 points and was one of four players in double figures as the Spartans posted their highest point total since March 3, 2008 in a 93-84 loss to Howard, a span of 87 games. NSU connected on 56.6 percent from the floor (30-of-53), its best total in the Division I era.

Along with Corbo's big day, senior Whitney Long posted 18 points, while the duo of junior Batavia Owens and sophomore Rachel Gordon each finished with 14 points. Gordon also completed her third career double-double with 10 rebounds. Corbo and junior Recca Trice added five and four assists, respectively, while Corbo and Long each tallied four steals.

NSU also won the rebounding battle, 40-36, and shot 5-of-12 from 3-point range. The Spartans limited TSU to 3-of-22 shooting (13.6 percent) from beyond the arc and dominated the Tigers inside, outscoring them 40-14 in the paint.

Texas Southern was led by Gianne Fleming with 13 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Kayla West added nine for the Tigers, and both she and Fleming each had four steals. Adijatu Disu grabbed a team-high eight rebounds,

TSU hit just five field goals in the second half and shot 15.2 percent in the stanza. The Tigers sank 29.7 percent for the game (19-of-64).

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

Second-Half NCCU Meltdown Provides Leverage For 62-49 Western Carolina Win

DURHAM, N.C. - After a solid first-half of play, North Carolina Central lost its steam to allow Western Carolina to take a 13-point, 62-49 win in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

While NCCU redshirt juniors Chasidy Williams and Jasmine Alston provided double-figure outings on the night, a total 27 turnovers cost the Lady Eagles their first home win.  Williams finished the contest with 17 points, while Alston dropped 11 points.

Along with her 17 points, Williams topped the mighty maroon in rebounds with seven, while leading in blocks with two and steals with three.

In terms of a total team performance, NCCU seized 36 rebounds, blocked three Catamounts' shots and stole 17 WCU possessions.  The Lady Eagles netted 60 percent from the free-throw line, 32 percent from the field and 60 percent from the three-point arc, with Alston going a perfect 3-for-3 from the long range.

The visiting Catamounts offense was led by Rena Wakama, Kaila'Shea Menendez and Makensey Campbell.  Wakama dropped 19 points, while going 10-for-12 from the charity stripe, Menendez netted 13 points and Campbell scoring 12 points.  Menendez also paced the squad in rebounds by pulling down seven boards.  Wakama distributed four assists and stole four NCCU possessions.

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com

Lady Aggies Lose Season Opener to  Iona Gaels 

New Rochelle, N.Y.-North Carolina A&T's new look worked a lot better at the end than it did in the beginning. The women's basketball team got off to a slow start in the first half, losing its first game of the season 85-69 to Iona in the Iona College Tip-Off Tournament.

Sophomore Tracy King led the Aggies with her third career double-double as she finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. King hit all 12 of her free throws. Kristina Ford led the Gaels with 34 points on 13-for-18 shooting.

Ford scored 19 of her 34 points in the first half. She broke open the game with a three that gave the Gaels an 18-11 lead seven minutes into the contest. Ford's three set the Gaels on an 18-3 run to give them their biggest lead of the afternoon at 33-14. N.C. A&T had trouble with turnovers as 13 of its turnovers in the first half led to 16 Gael points.

N.C. A&T returned to the court in the second half re-energized and re-focused, as they went shot-for-shot with the Gaels. Sophomore guard Mikala Scott totaled scored nine of her 15 in the second half. Scott's steal and layup sliced the Gaels lead to seven at 62-55 with 10:26 remaining. The Aggies had a chance to get even closer, but a Dian Hubbard steal led to a layup by Kara Kochanek. Ford's three put the Gaels ahead by double figures again at 67-55 with nine minutes remaining.

Iona shot 58 percent from the floor, while the Aggies shot 34 percent.

For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com