DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ashanti Hunt posted a season-high 20 points, and Daniella Hatcher poured in 19 as five Bethune-Cookman players scored in double figures and clamped down on the defensive end on Monday in a 88-59 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Howard Monday night in Historic Moore Gym.

Amaya Scott added 15 points Ashlie Howell and Ciara Thompson each scored 10 as the Lady Wildcats (17-5 overall, 9-1 MEAC) won their ninth straight and took a half-game lead over idle Norfolk State in the league standings.

Kiana Williams went scoreless, but grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and dished out a team-high six assists.

B-CU scored the game's first 12 points in a 23-9 first quarter that set the tone.

Howard only shot 23.8 percent (10-for-42) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while B-CU was 16-for-36 (44.4 percent) in the first half.

The second half was even better for B-CU, which hit 55.2 percent of its shots in the final 20 minutes. Howard got it to 45-35 with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter, but the Wildcats pushed the lead back to 60-43 before settling for a 61-48 advantage after three.

Two Hunt free throws with 7:52 remaining gave BCU a 72-51 advantage

For the game, B-CU was 32-for-65 (49.2 percent) from the floor, while Howard struggled to the tune of 27.6 percent shooting (21-for-76).

Jayla Thornton led Howard (14-10, 6-5 MEAC) with 13 points.

BCU travels to Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday.



NOTES: BCU's 88 points were a season-high and the most in a MEAC game since a 92-64 win over North Carolina A&T in 2004 ... Hunt needs 36 points to reach 1,000; this was her second career 20 point game ... BCU matched a season-high with eight blocks.