FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- The Fayetteville State women's basketball team secured a 74-53 victory over the Bluefield State Lady Blues at home on Saturday. The Broncos (7-5, 2-1 CIAA) were led by Keayna McLaughlin, who scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Alivia Evans contributed 11 points off the bench, while Morgan Graham recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Fayetteville State's strong performance on the offensive glass, led by Ashara Hayes' five offensive rebounds, resulted in 20 offensive boards and 10 second-chance points. The Broncos also excelled defensively, blocking seven shots, with Graham leading the way with four rejections.
The game started with Fayetteville State taking a 17-13 lead in the first quarter, largely due to their dominance in the paint. They extended their lead with a 13-0 run in the second quarter, highlighted by a three-pointer from freshman Jashontae Harris, and went into halftime with a 32-21 advantage.
In the third quarter, the Broncos continued to build on their lead with a 9-0 run, extending it to 41-21. Despite a brief rally from the Lady Blues, Fayetteville State maintained a 50-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Broncos sealed the game with a 10-0 run early in the fourth, ultimately cruising to a 74-53 win.
For Bluefield State (6-6, 0-2 CIAA), Aniyah Vanhook led the team with 13 points, shooting 4-10 from the field, including 2-7 from three-point range, and 3-4 from the free-throw line. Jayla Sample added 12 points, going 5-17 from the field and 2-4 from the free-throw line. Despite their efforts, the Lady Blues struggled with shooting, hitting only 28.4 percent of their shots from the field.
Fayetteville State's bench made a significant impact, contributing 39 points to the team's total. The Broncos also dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Lady Blues 60-37, and forced 17 turnovers, showcasing their defensive prowess.
Coach Tyreece Brown commented on the team's performance, saying, "We piggy-backed off last game with our aggression. We got 48 points in the paint from driving. Plus with our defensive, we are starting to really grasp the concepts of our defensive principles."
The women have a break for the holidays and will travel to Bowie, MD for a double-header with Bowie State on January 4, 2025. The tip-off for the women will be 2:00 PM.
