Rivera Huge Game Leads NCCU Over NSU

NORFOLK, VA – Junior forward Anissa Rivera scored a game-high 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team to a 57-44 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division victory at Norfolk State University on Sunday afternoon.

Rivera scored 16 of her season-high 22 points in the second half to rally the Eagles to their first league triumph. Rivera has scored in double digits in all seven games this season and has three double-doubles on the campaign.

Junior Kiyana Brown continued her strong play in the New Year, recording her third straight double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Freshman Paris McBride added eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the maroon and gray.

In a low scoring first half in which NCCU was held to 26.9-percent shooting from the field, the Eagles only led twice. A layup by McBride gave NCCU the initial 2-nil lead and a 3-pointer by redshirt sophomore Faith William briefly put the Eagles back ahead 9-8.

Senior forward Mangela Ngandjui scored 10 points in the first half to help pace the Spartans into the halftime locker room leading by five points, 27-22.

NCCU was still trailing 29-23 midway through the third quarter before ending the frame on a 19-4 run to rush ahead 42-33. Rivera was the catalyst with 12 points in the third quarter.

Another bucket by Rivera at the 6:09 mark of the fourth quarter provided the Eagles with their largest lead of the contest, 46-35.

Norfolk State chipped away and inched within four points on a 3-pointer on junior Jaiden Morris, but layups by Rivera and Brown in the final two minutes helped keep the Eagles ahead to the final buzzer.

NCCU finished with a 48-38 rebounding advantage. Norfolk State (2-6, 1-3 MEAC) was held to its second-lowest point total on the season.

Morris and Ngandjui topped the Spartans with 13 points apiece.

NC Central  (3-4, 1-1 MEAC) is next scheduled to host rival North Carolina A&T State University twice next weekend with both clashes on Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 30-31 slated to tip-off at 2 p.m.