DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Asianae Nicholson poured in 26 points to help Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball to a home opening 102-27 win over the University of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-1) was eager to shake off a season opening setback to South Florida earlier in the week, as the Wildcats hosted the Eagles of Fort Lauderdale for the first time in school history.
 
The Wildcats wasted little time building an insurmountable lead, running out to a 32-9 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. In fact, B-CU led 24-0 until a three-pointer from Fort Lauderdale (1-2) guard Nina Solomon put the visitors on the board with 2:07 remaining in the period.
 
Bethune-Cookman shot 58.8 percent from the field in the first quarter, using a 4 of 5 showing from the floor from Asianae Nicholson, a junior transfer from Alabama A&M. The second stanza saw the Cats build a 54-16 halftime lead behind 14 first half steals as a team, and turning the Eagles over 21 times overall across the opening 20 minutes.
 
Senior center Kayla Clark added a perfect 3-for-3 shooting touch from the field in the first half for eight points – adding 2 of 3 at the free throw line. And it was Nicholson almost outscoring the Eagles herself with 14 first half points in a 6-for-7 effort shooting from the floor.
 
The Cats allowed just five points in the third quarter in holding the Eagles to just a single field goal – a three-pointer from Kindal Glanton, and a pair of free throws. That allowed B-CU to extend its lead to 77-21 at the end of the period.
 
In the fourth, B-CU eclipsed the century mark for the first time since a 114-37 defeat of Trinity Baptist a season ago, when a Janessa Kelley three-pointer with 1:03 remaining put the cats up, 100-26.
 
On the day, Bethune-Cookman forced Fort Lauderdale into 38 turnovers on 23 steals. The Cats outscored the Eagles 45-0 in points off turnovers, adding a 59-7 advantage in bench points – as the Eagles made the trip with just eight players. In the end, they were forced to finish the final minute of the game with three players, Samiya Morris, Brinyia Rolax, Yadira Marshall and Clinnesha Simmons all fouled out.
 
For points in the paint, it was B-CU outscoring the Eagles in that department by a commanding 58-4 edge.
 
Fort Lauderdale was led in the contest by 13 points from Maiya Petit, adding three (3) three-pointers, three steals and two assists. Rolax had six rebounds and three blocks before fouling out late.
 
It was Nicholson leading the charge offensively for the Cats, with her game-high 26 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field – eventually completing her double-double with 11 rebounds to boot. Clark finished with 12 points, four assists, four steals and four boards. Daimoni Dorsey added 11 points and four rebounds. And it was Kayla White reaching double figures scoring with 11 points, five assists and five steals. Freshman point guard Jordan Brooks provided six assists.
 
B-CU next travels to Georgia Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m., in Statesboro, Georgia.
 
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