North Carolina Central University

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

     DURHAM, NC - Trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles capped a dramatic comeback by defeating the Elizabeth City State University Lady Vikings 75-72 on Tuesday. The win was the 11th straight for NCCU, who has also won 15 of its last 16 contests and eight straight inside McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium.
     NCCU (18-5, 13-3) trailed 61-43 with 11:04 remaining in the second half, following a lay-up by ECSU forward Tanika Hudgins. Over the next eight minutes the Lady Eagles, spurred by sophomore forward and reigning CIAA Player of the Week LaQuanda Williams, outscored the Lady Vikings 28-8 to take a 71-69 lead with 2:43 remaining, a lead that NCCU would never relinquish. 
     Williams scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and added seven rebounds, a career-high six steals and four assists. Freshman forward Jori Nwachukwu recorded her seventh double-double of the season and her second in a row, by amassing 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Jasmine Newkirk was the other Lady Eagle in double figures accumulating 13 points, in addition to four rebounds, three assists and two steals. NCCU is 14-1 with Williams in the line-up this season.
    ECSU (17-6, 14-2) was led by senior guard Deanna Price, who scored 15 points, dished out 10 assists, pulled down six rebounds and tallied five steals. All-CIAA performer Celeste Trahan had a team-high nine rebounds and 12 points in 28 minutes of action.