NC Central Ends Non-Conference Slate With Big Win

DURHAM, NC – Junior forward Kiyana Brown scored a career-high 22 points and freshman guard Paris McBride flirted with a triple-double to lead the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team to an 87-58 non-conference victory over North Carolina Wesleyan College on Monday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Brown led all scorers, swishing 22 points in her first start of the season. She had a hot hand throughout the contest, shooting with 11-of-16 precision (68.9%) from the field. Brown, whose previous best was 12 points at Long Island University, completed her second career-double double with 10 rebounds.

McBride filled up the box score with seven points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Her 10 boards and eight helpers are both new highs for the rookie.

NCCU (2-3) ended non-conference play with its best offensive performance of the season. The Eagles scored a season-high 87 points by shooting 46.1-percent from the floor and distributing the ball well with 21 assists.

Junior Cherelle Washington drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing on the opening possession to begin NCCU’s wire-to-wire triumph. Washington matched her season-best scoring output with 11 points.

A total of four Eagles reached double-digit points. Sophomore forward Anissa Rivera continued her stellar play with 15 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and two steals. Senior guard Necole Hope added 10 points and four assists.

The maroon and gray reserves had their most productive outing yet, including eight points by sophomore Khadija Demry and seven points by sophomore Simone Edmundson.

NCCU held the Battling Bishops to just four made field goals in the first quarter to jump out to a 24-10 lead after 10 minutes of play. The Eagles maintained a double-figure cushion throughout the second half before prevailing by 29 points.

NC Wesleyan (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season despite 21 points by senior Myrayna Watkins.

NC Central will next begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division play with a pair of home games against South Carolina State University on Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 16-17.