Box Score

NORFOLK, Va., March 6, 2018 – Bryeasha Blair’s 21 points helped No. 9 seed South Carolina State defeat No. 8 seed North Carolina Central in women’s first-round action in the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament in Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
The Lady Bulldogs will take on top seed North Carolina A&T State on Wednesday in a 12 p.m. quarterfinal.
 
Blair was one of four South Carolina State players in double figures, joined by Regina Garrett (11 points), Jasmine Williams and Kira Bell (10 points each). Williams also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to record a double-double.
 
S.C. State opened the game on an 18-8 run, and a Bell free throw later in the frame put the Lady Bulldogs up 23-13. Esther Udonsi hit a jumper with 25 seconds left in the first quarter to give S.C. State its largest lead at 27-15.
 
The Lady Bulldogs led 41-31 at the half.
 
But the Lady Eagles bounced back in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 16-7 run to cut the lead to 48-47 at the 3:00 mark after a Deja McCain jumper. S.C. State answered by scoring the last six points of the quarter to re-establish control.
 
The Lady Bulldogs shot 50.0 percent (27-for-54) from the floor, including a season-best 58.6 percent in the first half.
 
Jada Blow led N.C. Central with 18 points.