DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Chastity René Taylor and Jasmine Evans each registered 13 points for Bethune-Cookman, but it was not enough as the Lady Wildcats fell to the visiting South Carolina State Bulldogs, 58-50, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball contest inside Moore Gymnasium on Saturday.

Bethune-Cookman (11-13, 6-6 MEAC) found it difficult to score early-on as the Lady Wildcats were limited to just three points through the first 12 minutes and 28 seconds of the game. The visiting Bulldogs (16-7, 8-4 MEAC) held a 25-3 advantage following a layup from Kourtney Williams with 7:32 remaining in the first half.

The Lady Cats would chip away at the lead on the strength of a 10-0 run to end the half, thanks in part to a pair of buckets from Evans, including a three-pointer.

B-CU was limited to just 30 percent shooting in the opening half, trailing 32-19 at intermission.

"It's very simple," said B-CU head coach Vanessa Blair. "You can't win ball games when you can't score."

Leading B-CU by just a single game in the league standings heading into the contest, S.C. State widened its lead in the game to 44-25 with 8:35 remaining in the game on the strength of a 4-0 run that included baskets in the paint from Tiara Knotts and Trinese Fox.

Not one to go away quietly, Bethune-Cookman quickly answered to cut the lead at 44-34 behind seven consecutive points from Terrenisha Hollis. She would finish the game with nine points and eight rebounds.

Following back-to-back layups from junior Amanda Hairston, the Lady Wildcats cut the Bulldogs lead under double-digits for the first time since the opening half, trailing just 45-38 with 4:30 remaining.

"[Terrenisha] Hollis and [Amanda] Hairston were attacking the basket and we got into the bonus at the foul line rather early," stated Blair. "We tried to use that to our advantage and score without time running off the clock and setup in our press defense."

However, it was free throws down the stretch from the Bulldogs' combination of Ashley Clarke and Fox that allowed the visitors from Orangeburg, S.C. to collect the victory.

"We had poor decision-making in the game," said Blair. "We turned the ball over at key times, and then didn't hit the right players at the right times."

South Carolina State was led in scoring by Clarke with 15 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the foul line, and handing out four assists while collecting two steals. Also in double figures scoring for the Bulldogs were Knotts (13) and Fox (12). For SCSU, 13 of their 18 field goals were assisted baskets.

B-CU was led in scoring by Evans and Taylor with 13 points apiece, with Taylor connecting on a trio of three-point baskets, as well as a game-high nine rebounds from Evans.

Prior to the game, the B-CU coaching staff paid tribute to Shakeyia Colyer and Sharnese Neal in a special "Senior Day" ceremony with their family and friends.

The Lady Cats will look to turn things around when they host Savannah State to Moore Gymnasium on Monday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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