DURHAM, N.C. – Kendra Cooper's 13 points led a balanced scoring effort as Bethune-Cookman won its eighth consecutive game with a 62-52 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.

The Wildcats (17-9 overall, 13-1 MEAC) have now clinched the conference regular season championship outright, and the team is assured the number one seed at the conference tournament beginning March 6 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Bethune-Cookman scored the game's first seven points, but saw that lead fade as North Carolina Central (6-20, 5-9 MEAC) took a 16-14 lead on Jada Blow's three-pointer with 1:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Cooper tied the game 24 seconds later, and gave the Wildcats a 19-16 advantage on a three-pointer to start the second quarter. BCU outscored N.C. Central 18-9 in the second period for a 34-25 halftime lead.

The Eagles closed to 38-35 on Morgan Jones' jumper with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter, but Cooper, Chasimmie Brown and Taylor Houston produced a 9-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 47-35 lead. BCU expanded its lead to 60-41 on an Armani Walker layup with 4:32 left.

Angel Golden had nine points and four rebounds for BCU, while Kailyn Williams, Houston and Walker each scored eight and Brown seven.

Jones had a game-high 20 for the Eagles.

Bethune-Cookman faces North Carolina A&T Monday.

HEAD COACH VANESSA BLAIR LEWIS

"We have to be ready to play every night in this league."

"Every thing is one game at a time. We know we have a game 5:30 on Monday."


KENDRA COOPER

"The bench performance keeps us in games."

"The winning streak is good for the program, but we're just focused one game at a time. The past games are in the past games."

ANGEL GOLDEN

"I just tried to hit some shots tonight."

NOTES: B-CU's 13 conference wins are a school record, replacing last year's 12 ...The eight game winning streak is the program's longest since 1986...B-CU has trailed just 16 minutes and 32 seconds out of a possible 320 minutes during the winning streak...Cooper has been in double-figures three straight games and eight of the last nine...This was the 16th straight game she's hit a three-pointer...Hunt matched her season high with 5 assists