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Raychele Payne Action

Women's Basketball Matt Michalec, SID

Frank's Buzzer-Beater Gives Lady Wildcats Win Over NSU

B-CU Spoils Payne's 26-Point Night

Raychele Payne Scored a Game-High 26 Points and Drained Six 3-Pointers

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Demetria Frank banked in a long two-point jumper from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to give Bethune-Cookman a 76-74 win over Norfolk State on Saturday at Moore Gymnasium.

NSU freshman forward Danelle Tate (Stafford, Va.) capped a frantic late Spartans' rally with a left-handed layup with 10 seconds left, tying the game at 74-all. After a 30-second Spartans' timeout, Frank dribbled up the floor, appeared to lose the ball, but gathered it with just enough time left to hoist a quick jumper with her feet just inside the arc. It bounced off the glass and through to give the Wildcats (4-17, 1-8 MEAC) their first conference win of the season.

The win prevented NSU (4-15, 1-8) from gaining its first two-game win streak of the season. But like they have in recent weeks, the Spartans played an inspired game and nearly came up with an improbable win.

B-CU led 44-30 at halftime after holding NSU to 32 percent shooting and forcing 20 Spartan turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Wildcats led by as many as 16 points in the second half and maintained a 14-point advantage, 68-54, after a 3-pointer by Traci Fountain with 6:33 left. But NSU outscored the hosts 20-6 over the next 6:23.  Tashawna Higgins (Toronto, Ontario)scored nine of her 10 points in that stretch, which Tate capped with a layup off a feed from Natasha Huntley (Greensboro, N.C.).

NSU freshman guard Raychele Payne (Newport News, Va.) scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half. She finished the game 8-of-18 from the floor, 6-of-10 from 3-point range, and was one point shy of tying her career high in scoring. The six 3-pointers are one shy of tying the school record which she co-owns with Trena Clark.

Tate had 15 points and seven rebounds for NSU. Ebony Gibbs (Petersburg, Va.) had 13 points, seven steals, six assists and six rebounds. Higgins added five assists and four steals.

Jalisa Isaac had a team-high 24 points to lead the Wildcats. She made four 3-pointers. Natasha Ferguson had 14 points and 15 rebounds, Frank added 13 points and Fountain contributed 11.

NSU returns to action Monday at Florida A&M. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

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