NC Central WBB Falls at Campbell

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to within six points, but host Campbell University kept making 3-pointers to close out a 74-61 victory inside Gore Arena on Tuesday night.

The Camels improved to 6-2 on the season and 3-0 at home after swishing a season-high 14 shots from three-point distance. The Eagles shrunk their deficit to 54-48, but Campbell connected on four 3-pointers during an ensuing 14-3 run to thwart NCCU’s rally.

A couple of turnaround jumpers by freshman Jada Tiggett and a pair of treys by senior Kimeira Burks accounted for all 10 of NCCU’s points in a low-scoring first quarter. Campbell shot slightly better than the Eagles to take a 15-10 edge after 10 minutes of play.

Burks scored nine of NCCU’s first 10 points of the second quarter to keep the visitors within a possession or two for the majority of the period. Her last basket of the half was a running jumper down the left lane that had the Eagles within four points.

However, Campbell hit a trio of treys in the final two minutes and closed the half on a 13-2 run to pull ahead by 15 (37-22) at the midway point.

Burks scored 15 of her team-high 17 points in the first half while matching her season-best total of six rebounds.

The Camels increased their advantage to as many as 21 points in the third quarter before the Eagles made their valent comeback attempt.

NC Central closed the third quarter on a 7-2 run and then scored 10 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter to close within two possessions. Sophomore Ray’ven Robinson scored all 10 of her points during NCCU’s 17-2 run that overlapped the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter, including a jumper in the paint that put the Eagles within six points at 54-48.

The Camels did not score for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but Shy Tuelle drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to heat Campbell back up and start the decisive 14-3 run. Tuelle and Audrey Fuller both swished four 3-pointers and as they each finished with 14 points.

Svenia Nürenberg bucketed a season-high 17 points to lead all scorers and Gianni Boone was Campbell’s fourth double-digit scorer with 10 points.

Freshman Kyla Bryant also aided in NCCU’s rally as she scored 13 of her 14 points in the second half while coming up with three steals. Junior Morgan Callahan chipped in eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds as the Eagles edged the Camels, 37-35, on the backboards.

NC Central (3-5) is next scheduled to travel to Florida to play Jacksonville University on Monday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.