Strong First Half Sends Spartans Past the Lady Eagles
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Freshmen Rodneysha Martin and Jayla Calhoun both came off the bench and netted season-high point totals for visiting North Carolina Central University in a 68-46 non-conference women’s basketball loss at the University of South Carolina Upstate Saturday afternoon at the Hodge Center.
The Spartans scorched the hoop at 63-percent precision in the first half to claim a 39-17 halftime advantage before cruising to the 22-point victory. Upstate (7-6) – 4-1 at home – was led by senior center Brittany Starling, who totaled game-high numbers of 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Martin led the Lady Eagles with nine points and Calhoun match junior Monique Whaley-Briggs with eight points. Senior Tisha Dixon followed with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds. NCCU (1-8) played its second straight game without junior guard Morgan Jones due to injury.
Brittany Clency and Raven Jefferson registered 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the victors. Upstate shot 50-percent for the contest, tallied 18 assists on 29 made field goals and edged NCCU on the boards by four (43-39).
The Lady Eagles got half of their points from reserves with freshman Maya Jackson adding six points and six rebounds. The visitors shot 28.3-percent.
NCCU wraps up play before the holiday break with a non-conference contest at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina on Monday at 5 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Owls Soar Past Lady Hornets
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Two double-digit unanswered first half runs by the Temple Owls (6-4), in addition to six players scoring in double figures at game’s end, turned out to be too much for the Delaware State women’s basketball team (2-8) to overcome Saturday afternoon on the road, as the Lady Hornets suffered a 100-59 loss.
With this defeat, the Lady Hornets failed register back-to-back wins for the first time this season, while Temple tallied its highest scoring total of the season (100) on its way to its third consecutive victory.
Temple was led by Tanaya Atkinson, who finished with a game-high 24 points (11-of-16) and nine boards, while Alliya Butts tallied 17 points (4-of-11) and a game-high seven assists.
Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Hornets, led by freshman sensation NaJai Pollard pouring in 15 points (6-of-7). Amber Bogard also chipped in with 12 points (6-of-11), while N’Kayah Kersey (3-of-7) and sophomore Mikah Aldridge (2-of-9) both tallied 10 points.
Delaware State returns to action at 2 p.m., on Tuesday at home against Longwood.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Despite slow start, Lady Bulldogs come back to beat UNF
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After not scoring a basket for the first 7:16 of the game and trailing 16-6 at the end of the first quarter, the South Carolina State women’s basketball team rallied to beat the University of North Florida 53-48 on Saturday afternoon in the Hampton Inn Oceanfront Holiday Classic at UNF Arena.
SC State (4-5) turned it around in the second quarter, outscoring UNF (4-8) 17-3 after getting 10 points from Amber Howard. The Lady Bulldogs led 23-19 at halftime and carried their momentum into the third quarter. They shot 62.5 percent from the field (10-of-16) in the third period, extending the lead to 13 (45-32) heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
A pair of free throws by Jahmia Bradley gave SC State its largest lead of the game (15 points; 47-32) at the 9:07 mark, but the Ospreys went on a 16-3 to cut the lead to two points (50-48) with 2:14 left in the game. A free throw by Howard and a layup by Brittany Drumgoole gave the Lady Bulldogs their fourth win of the season.
Sierra Shepherd had a game-high 14 points for UNF, while Maiya Rumph had 14 rebounds.
Howard finished with 11 points and Drumgoole had nine points, three boards and three steals. Jasmine Coleman added eight points, 12 rebounds and a block
The Lady Bulldogs wrap up tournament play in a 1 p.m. meeting with Central Arkansas on Sunday.
For complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com