DURHAM, N.C.-
Myasia Jones scored in double figures for the 13th time this season but Savannah State would fall to North Carolina Central 77-65 in a game played at
McDougald-McLendon Arena.
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Jones had a team-high 11 points while Alexxus Sowell added 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
The loss dropped the Lady Tigers to 6-16 overall and 4-9 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.
Savannah State got off to a slow start, falling behind 11-0. A layup by
Robbi Allen got SSU on the board with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter.
SSU was able to slice their deficit to six but the Eagles finished the quarter with a 11-2 run to take a 24-9 lead.
The Lady Tigers played better in the second quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field and out-scoring NCCU 14-4 in the paint. Savanna State trailed by 13 with just over three minutes left but held the Eagles to one field goal to close the half.
NCCU led 35-28 at intermission.
In the third quarter, a 3-pointer by Jones would pull SSU within 42-36. Down by nine with 1:17 left in the quarter, North Carolina Central scored four of the final five points to take a 60-48 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Both teams scored 17 points in the final quarter.
Savannah State made six of their 12 shots from the floor while holding the Eagles to 31.6 percent shooting from the field, in the quarter.
North Carolina Central led by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter but allowed SSU to get as close as 65-58 at the 6:09 mark.
Savannah State found themselves down by 13 with just over three minutes remaining and used a pair of free throws by
Azhana Maxwell and a 3-pointer by
Le'Andrea Gillis to trim their deficit to 72-64 but could get no closer.
SSU finished the game shooting 41.9 percent from the floor while making just three of 17 shot from beyond the arc. The Lady Tigers were 10 of 15 from the free throw line.
North Carolina Central (8-19, 5-9 MEAC) was paced by Paulina Afriyie who had 19 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The Eagles out-rebounded SSU 47-41.
NCCU shot 36.6 percent from the field, 55.6 percent from beyond the arc and 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
