NEW ORLEANS --- Young they might be, but Bethune-Cookman knew the difference between a convincing victory and an escape Friday.

The Lady Wildcats downed Jackson State 3-2 (25-14,21-25,26-24,24-26,15-12)before falling to host New Orleans 3-0 (25-21,25-16,25-23) at the UNO Invitational.

Sterling Williamson had 21 kills, Jordan Jefferson a 17-kill, 14-dig double-double and Meraiah Hill a school record 11 blocks in the Lady Wildcats' team record 20 block effort, but you could hardly tell that in the locker room following the match.

"Doesn't even felt like we won," Jefferson said as players took turns dissecting their performance. "Feels like we're on a roller coaster."

Just like last week against The Citadel, Bethune-Cookman (3-5) let a match point slip away in the fourth set as Jackson State rallied from a 14-5 crater. Then in the fifth set, leads of 5-3 and 9-6 turned into a 12-11 deficit before two Jefferson kills sparked a 4-0 run.

"We have to be able to put teams away," said Head Coach Brittany Williams. "It's great that we hit .224 and turned in a 20-block effort, but we know we need to be better all-around."

With Faith Landreneaux sidelined this weekend, the opportunity was there for someone to step up in the middle blockers.
Hill delivered, and eclipsed the mark of 10 held by Rakaya Neely, Landreneaux and Javanne Johnson. Delaine Fulton also put her name in the record book with eight blocks -- tied for seventh in a single match -- as B-CU destroyed the previous team mark of 15.

"A school record is amazing. It'll help me believe in myself a lot more," Hill said. "What's working for me is going up and pressing, paying more attention not to terminate a block, but make it easier for my back row to defend."

Williamson's rise as an offensive threat continued with her 21 kills and .300 hitting percentage in an effort that was consistent throughout the match.  With her 12 kills against New Orleans, she's now had three double-figure kill totals in her last four matches.

"It's my confidence and mentality," Williamson said. "I've been taking smarter swings."

Skyla Whittaker (15 digs) and Shayla Eugene (10) quietly paced B-CU's defense, while J'nai Higgins posted 43 assists.

Jefferson registered her 17th career-double in the New Orleans match. B-CU rallied from a 20-12 deficit to a 23-23 tie on a Williamson kill before the Privateers scored the final two points.

B-CU faces Morgan State and Prairie View A&M Saturday.

NOTES: B-CU's 20 team blocks tied San Diego State and Texas for the second-most blocks in a 5-set match in the nation this season; UCLA had 22 … Hill's 11 blocks tied her for fourth …B-CU now 5-6 in 5-set matches in the Brittany Williams era.