NORFOLK, Va. – Ashanti Hunt scored a career-high 21 points as Bethune-Cookman downed Norfolk State 68-58 in a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon.

The sophomore made all six field goal attempts, was 9-10 from the line and had nine rebounds as the Lady Wildcats (10-9 overall, 6-1 MEAC) kept within a half game of Hampton for the conference lead.

Kailyn Williams scored 13 points, Kendra Cooper 11 and Taylor Houston 10 for Bethune-Cookman.

Norfolk State (10-9, 5-2) scored the first five points of the second half to close to 32-28, but Hunt scored eight points and Cooper six as the Lady Wildcats ran off 15 unanswered points to take a 47-28 lead on Williams' free throw with 6:08 remaining in the third period. Hunt had a pair of traditional three-point plays during the run. 

In the fourth quarter, the Spartans got within 64-55 on a Alexys Long three-pointer with 5:54 left, but Bethune-Cookman held the home scoreless the next five minutes.

Gabrielle Swinson led Norfolk State with 13.

Bethune-Cookman hosts Delaware State next Saturday.

HEAD COACH VANESSA BLAIR LEWIS

"We couldn't let the Maryland Eastern Shore loss roll over into this one. Not only we were tied with Norfolk State for second place,
we didn't play well here last year, so this was a redemption game."

"We hadn't handled Norfolk State's press well in the past, so it was big getting the ball to Ashanti in the middle. We emphasized to her on focusing on getting the "and one""

"We wanted to shoot 75 percent from the line."

"We knew first five minutes of the third quarter would be big."

ASHANTI HUNT

"Good things happen when you drive to the hole. I tried to do what I do best. It helped create shots for my teammates."

"I had to do what my team needed me to do -- get buckets."

NOTES:

1. B-CU  now 4-0 on the road in MEAC play.
2. The 68 points were the Lady Cats' most on the road this season.
3. Hunt has now been in double figures five straight games. Her 21 points marked the fourth time this season a Lady Wildcat has scored 20 or more. Her two assists came on kickouts that resulted in three-pointers from Cooper and Houston.
4. Emily Williams had a season high six rebounds.
5. Cooper matched her season high of five steals and had a season-high 5 assists.
6. Kailyn Williams closed to within eight points of the 1,000 career mark.