DURHAM, N.C. – During its best defensive effort of the season, the Bethune-Cookman women's basketball team moved to 9-5 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings, after a 50-33 victory over North Carolina Central spoiled the Eagles Senior Day in Durham, North Carolina.
Holding NCCU to only 33 points was a season-best for the Wildcats, surpassing their 60-42 victory over Edward Waters (Dec. 2, 2014).
B-CU opened the contest on a 13-0 run, only missing a single shot heading into the first media timeout at the 15:46 mark.
The Eagles scoring silence ended at 15:22 when Morgan Jones knocked down the first NCCU bucket of the game.
Momentum stayed in favor of the Cats, as B-CU took an enormous 30-3 lead and despite not scoring during the final four minutes of the first half, the Wildcats took a promising 34-10 lead into the intermission.
At the break, B-CU junior Jasmine Knowles scoring performance matched the Eagles, scoring a game-best ten points.
The Wildcats also shot 45.2% from the field during the opening 20 minutes, compared to the Eagles' blistering 14.3%.
Sophomore Kendra Cooper knocked down a three-ball at the 8:54 mark in the second half, giving the Cats their 50th point of the game, and largest lead of 31 at 50-19.
A defensive effort took over during the final frame for B-CU, while although being outscored by NCCU 23-16 and not scoring for nearly the final nine minutes of action, the Wildcats still picked up the 17 points victory, 50-33.
Three Wildcats finished in double figures, as Terrenisha Hollis, Knowles and Cooper's 38 combined points outshined the NCCU scoring efforts and sophomore Kailyn Williams dominated on the glass, pulling down a game-best 14 boards, and swapping six Eagle shots.
During the Cats and Eagles second meeting of the season, B-CU was able to hold the MEAC's 8th best scorer to a solo bucket, as Racquel Davis finished the contest with two points and seven boards for NCCU.
The Eagles were led offensively by Tisha Dixon's eight points.
B-CU returns to action on Monday, March 2 as the Wildcats remain in North Carolina, taking on the North Carolina A&T Aggies at 5:30 p.m., in Greensboro.
