FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- The Fayetteville State women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day with a commanding 74-40 victory over Claflin University at home on Wednesday. The Broncos (18-7, 13-3 CIAA) showcased a strong defensive performance, holding the Panthers to just 10.5 percent from beyond the arc and 27.4 percent from the field.

Morgan Graham led the charge for Fayetteville State, recording a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Keayna McLaughlin added 15 points and six rebounds, while KaNyah O'Neal contributed 11 points off the bench. The Broncos outrebounded Claflin 44-41, with Graham leading the effort on the boards.

The game started with a closely contested first quarter, with Fayetteville State trailing 9-7. However, the Broncos rallied in the second quarter, building a 24-19 lead before going on an 11-0 run to end the half at 35-19. Fayetteville State dominated the paint, scoring 14 of its 28 first-half points close to the basket.

In the third quarter, Fayetteville State extended its lead to 46-22 with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a basket from Nyah Wilkins. The Broncos continued to pull away, entering the fourth quarter with a 56-26 advantage. Fayetteville State's three-point shooting was on display, as they knocked down four treys in the third quarter alone.

The Broncos maintained their lead in the final period, going on a 5-0 run capped by a Talia Trotter layup to push the score to 72-38 with 1:51 remaining. Fayetteville State finished the game strong, securing the 74-40 win.

Fayetteville State's defense was stellar throughout, forcing 20 turnovers and holding Claflin to just 2-for-19 from three-point range. The Broncos also received significant contributions from their bench, which added 23 points to the team's total.

Fayetteville State will take the CIAA Southern Division's No. 1 seed heading into the tournament next week in Baltimore, Md.