NCCU Women’s Basketball Dominates SCSU for Fourth Straight Victory

DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) women’s basketball team controlled the game from start to finish in a 71-56 win over South Carolina State University (SCSU) on Saturday at McDougald-McLendon Arena. This marked the Eagles’ most complete Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) performance of the season, extending their winning streak to four games.

Graduate forward Morgan Callahan and freshman guard Shakiria Foster led the Eagles with 17 points each, while sophomore guard Aysia Hinton added 14 points. NCCU (3-2 MEAC, 6-14 overall) remains in the top half of the conference standings, tied for third place with nine league games remaining.

“Our goal was to make them call the first timeout,” said Head Coach Terrence Baxter. “We’re starting to believe in ourselves and focus on what we do best. We’ve been through enough losses, and now we’re showing we can compete.”

The Eagles’ defense was a major factor, forcing 29 turnovers and converting them into 30 points. Callahan dominated inside with nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, while sophomore forward Jada Creech added nine points on perfect shooting in just 14 minutes off the bench.

South Carolina State (1-4 MEAC, 2-19 overall) was led by Shaunice Reed, who scored a game-high 26 points. However, the Bulldogs struggled to handle NCCU’s relentless defense and inside presence, with the Eagles outscoring them 40-24 in the paint.

The Eagles opened with a strong 20-10 lead in the first quarter, sparked by Hinton’s early scoring burst. By halftime, NCCU had built a commanding 38-23 advantage, fueled by Callahan’s and Creech’s contributions.

Although the Bulldogs briefly narrowed the gap to 12 points in the third quarter, NCCU quickly responded with key plays from sophomore guard-forward Jada Tiggett and freshman Tierney Coleman, pushing the lead back to 16 points by the end of the period. The margin grew to 20 points in the final frame, sealing the victory.

Coach Baxter credited the Eagles’ recent schedule for their strong start. “Playing Pfeiffer earlier this week helped us shake off any rust,” Baxter said. “South Carolina State had a long break, and we knew jumping on them early would be critical.”

The Eagles now face a challenging stretch of conference play, beginning with a road game against defending MEAC champions Norfolk State on Feb. 3.

“We’re starting to play better together,” Creech said. “With the leadership of our veterans and the growth of our younger players, it’s only up from here.”