Five Lady Eagles Score Double Figures to Drop Livingstone
NCCU Rookie Stefkova Records First Career Double-Double

DURHAM, NC ­ Five Lady Eagles hit double figures in the scoring column as North Carolina Central University captured a 69-63 CIAA Western Division victory over Livingstone College at McLendon-McDougald Gym in Durham, NC.

NCCU freshman Lenka Stefkova posted her first career double-double with season-highs of 18 points, 10 rebounds and six steals to lead the charge for the victors. Juniors Tiona Beatty and Nichole Davis scored 11 points apiece, while senior Tiffany Foster and junior Adija Beaty added 10 points each. In her first start of the season, Foster also contributed a team-high five assists, four boards and three steals for NCCU (3-11, 2-4 CIAA).

Livingstone (2-11, 0-5 CIAA) was topped by junior guard Angela Thomas with a game-high 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 36 minutes of action. Although shooting just 5-for-16 from the field, Thomas was perfect in her 13 attempts from the charity stripe. Freshman forward Sherree Gillespie added 12 points and five boards for the Lady Blue Bears.

NCCU jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first six minutes of the contest, with Stefkova and Foster netting four points each.

The Lady Blue Bears scored their first point at the 12:59 mark on a free throw by junior center Chloe' McInnis. Thirty seconds later, freshman guard Kautelza Richards hit LC's first field goal to make the score 11-3.

NCCU forced Livingstone into 17 first half turnovers, as the Lady Eagles took a 27-14 advantage into the locker room.

NCCU held a double-digit cushion for most of the second half, but the Lady Blue Bears made a late rally to make things interesting.

A pair of free throws by Beatty with 1:13 remaining gave NCCU a 61-51 lead. Livingstone extended the game by fouling and sending the Lady Eagles to the charity stripe. The strategy paid off as NCCU hit only five of their next 10 free throws, allowing the Lady Blue Bears to cut the deficit to 66-63 with 15 ticks left.

The Lady Eagles then connected on three straight free throws to seal the victory, their third in the last six outings.

This is the first time in 30 games that five Lady Eagles have scored double-digits. The last time that happened was on Jan. 22, 2002, when NCCU defeated Morris College 85-43 in Sumter, SC.