BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman's Quamecha Morrison finished second in the high jump Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

The senior from Beaufort, S.C., cleared six feet,  one-half inch on her second try and was one of four to advance to 6' 1 ½".

Zarriea Willis of Texas Tech that mark was the lone competitor to clear that  height and take the national championship.

Morrison cleared her first three jumps to earn the tie breaker over Loretta Blaut of Cincinnati and Sanna Barnes of Villanova.

"I'm happy with what I accomplished, but I know I can do more," Morrision said. "I came in seeded 11^th, but I couldn't let that bother me. All I needed was the opportunity.

"My whole approach came together," Morrison added. "My steps were on, my takeoff was on. All I needed to do was kick over faster and I would have had that last jump."

She becomes the first BCU female athlete to score at an NCAA national championship either indoor or outdoor and the first Wildcat to finish in the top eight since Joel Redhead and Ronnie Ash at the 2009 outdoors.

This was Morrison's third NCAA appearance, second at the indoors. She also competed at the outdoor championships last as part of the 4X100 relay team. She won the pentathlon at this year's MEAC indoor championship in additional to her third high jump title.

"What an amazing feeling," said BCU Head Coach Donald Cooper. "Last year was about experience, this year was about execution.

"After the indoors, I told Quamecha there were more `first time evers' awaiting her this season," Cooper added. "She remained poised and determined. Simply amazing, how she executed and how she represented her team, BCU and her family."