ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Feb. 3, 2024)--Amari Smith led four Lady Bears in double figures scoring with 15 points, as Morgan State ended a season-long four game losing skid with a 65-59 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory at South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
 
The win was the 11^th straight for Morgan State over South Carolina State, as the Lady Bears now lead the series 46-40.
 
Morgan State (7-14, 2-4 MEAC), which sported a new starting lineup, got 13 points from Sedayjha Payne, who shot 6-of-12, grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, and had a game-high three steals. Joelle Johnson finished with 12 points, five rebounds, a game-high five assists, two steals and recorded a game-high four blocked shots. Jael Butler totaled 11 points and four boards, as the Lady Bears got 55 of their 65 points from their starters.
 
South Carolina State (1-20, 0-6 MEAC), which dropped its 14^th straight game, was led by Jordan Releford, who knocked down 16-of-20 free throws to finish with a game-high 18 points. Cassandra Colon came off the bench to score 14 points.
 
The Lady Bears forced 27 S.C. State turnovers, but committed 24 turnovers themselves.  
 
Morgan State, which never trailed in the game, jumped out to an 11-4 advantage five minutes into the game. The host Lady Bulldogs closed out the opening period on an 11-5 spurt to pull within 16-15.
 
Smith knocked down a three-pointer with 5:06 left in the second quarter to break a 20 all score, as Morgan State ended the first half on a 7-1 run to take a 27-21 lead into the locker room.
 
The guests used a 15-8 run to start the third quarter, capped off by a three-pointer from Emily Jones to give Morgan a 42-29 lead with 3:40 left in the third.
 
Morgan State began the fourth period with an 11-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 14 points (55-41), following a layup by Butler with 5:40 to play. S.C. State made a late push and got within six points at 63-57 with 21 seconds remaining, but could not get any closer.
 
The Lady Bears will wrap up its three-game road swing and the first half of the MEAC slate on Monday, Feb. 5, when it travels to Durham, N.C. to face North Carolina Central. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
NCCU (10-11, 4-2 MEAC), winners of two straight, earned a 53-48 victory over visiting Coppin State on Saturday.  
  
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.