Bethune-Cookman 86, South Carolina State 70
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daniella Hatcher scored a career-high 27 points as Bethune-Cookman won its 12th straight with an 86-70 victory over South Carolina State Saturday in Moore Gymnasium.
The junior from Orlando had 10 first-quarter points as the Lady Wildcats (20-5 overall, 12-1 MEAC) jumped out to a 23-10 first-quarter lead. She was 12-19 from the field and also had eight rebounds.
Amaya Scott and Kiana Williams each scored 13, and freshman Imani Reid 12 as B-CU remained a game-and-a-half ahead over Norfolk State atop the league standings. The two teams meet Monday evening.
The Lady Wildcats also posted their third consecutive 20-win season.
Ashlie Howell added nine points and six rebounds for B-CU, who took its biggest lead at 67-38 on Hatcher’s 3-pointer with 5:57 remaining in the third period.
B-CU shot a season-best 52.9 percent (36-for-68) from the field in its second-highest offensive output of the season.
Heinaya Moton led South Carolina State (3-22, 2-11 MEAC) with 27 points.
Delaware State 71, Coppin State 66
BALTIMORE, Md. — Delaware State women’s basketball team hit its first eight shots and 10 of 13 in the first quarter to highlight a 71-65 victory over Coppin State at CSU’s Physical Education Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Hornets’ 76.9 percent first-quarter shooting percentage marked a school record for a quarter. Delaware State also shot a season-high 55.3 percent for the game (26-for-47), highlighted by a .667 mark in the first half (14-for-21).
The Lady Hornets won for the third time in four games to improve to 12-12 overall and 8-4 in the MEAC. Delaware State was fifth in the MEAC standings entering the game but tied in the loss column with fourth-place North Carolina A&T State and third-place Morgan State.
Delaware State also swept the season series from the Eagles for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
Sharajah Collins led a balanced Hornets scoring attack with 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field (2-for-3 3-pointers) and 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. Collins also led all players with five assists.
Tierra Floyd added 15 points. She was 5-for-9 from the floor, including 3-of-6 on 3-point shots, and 2-for-2 at the free-throw line.
Norfolk State 69, Florida A&M 62
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Senior guard La’Deja James scored 19 points to lead Norfolk State over the Florida A&M Rattlers 69-62 at the Al Lawson Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans (16-9, 10-2 MEAC) took control from the jump, scoring 19 straight points to start the game. NSU went 11-of-19 (57.9%) in the opening period while holding FAMU (5-20, 3-11 MEAC) to shoot just 3-of-9 (33%). The Spartans came out dishing the ball, with seven of their 17 assists coming in the first quarter. James went 4-of-5 (80%) in the period to score the first eight of her game-high 19 points.
The dominant quarter by the Spartans put them ahead 23-6 at the end of one.
James led the Spartans by shooting 8-for-10 for 19 points, while also dishing out five assists. Chanette Hicks added 13 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Mikaela Jones had her sixth double-figure game of the season, scoring 12 points to go along with five rebounds.
Armani Franklin scored eight points, while Blaire Thomas was just shy of a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
North Carolina A&T State 60, Howard 55
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cinia McCray had 16 points, Alexus Lessears recorded a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) and North Carolina A&T State held off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Howard 60-55 at the Corbett Sports Center.
The Aggies improved to 17-8 overall and 9-4 in MEAC play this season.
Jasmen Walton had 12 points in the win.
In the opening minute of the fourth quarter, NCAT had built a 14-point lead, going up 50-36 after a Lessears layup. Howard cut the lead to five on more than one occasion, but the Bison couldn’t cut to within a single possession.
Ayonna Williams led the Bison (14-11, 6-6 MEAC) with 15 points.
North Carolina Central 78, Maryland Eastern Shore 70
DURHAM, N.C. — All four North Carolina Central seniors started and the quartet delivered for 51 combined points in a 78-70 home win against Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Senior forward Paulina Afriyie, senior guard Kieche White, senior guard Zaria Atkins and senior forward Theyoung Puoy were all honored before Saturday’s “Senior Day” game.
Afriyie led all players with 22 points and 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. White and Atkins both swished 13 points, while they combined for seven assists. Puoy hit NCCU’s first field goal of the game with a 3-pointer to start NCCU’s pursuit of a second straight win.
Freshman Mya Thomas paced the Hawks with 18 points.
Courtesy: MEAC
