WILLIAMS GYMNASIUM – Battling through one of the most demanding non-conference schedules this season, Carolina University Women's Basketball earned a hard-fought 78–72 victory over Elizabeth City State University on Sunday afternoon inside Williams Gymnasium.
The contest featured momentum swings throughout all four quarters, with neither side able to fully pull away until the closing minutes. Elizabeth City State entered the matchup at 3–11, while Carolina came in at 2–12, but the records did little to reflect the competitiveness on the floor.
Carolina opened the game with strong energy, taking a 23–20 advantage after the first quarter. The Vikings weathered a difficult second period offensively, as Elizabeth City State edged ahead at halftime, 41–31. Despite the setback, Carolina stayed composed and continued to battle on both ends of the floor.
The third quarter saw the teams trade baskets, with Elizabeth City State narrowly outscoring Carolina, 17–16, setting up a decisive fourth quarter. Down entering the final frame, the Vikings responded with their most complete stretch of basketball, outscoring the visitors 31–14 in the final 10 minutes to secure the comeback victory.
Junior guard Dearia Page led all scorers with a career-high 35 points, shooting efficiently from the field and converting key free throws late to seal the win. Page also added 15 rebounds for a double-double performance. Jakyiiah Willis contributed 14 points, while Mya Smith added 10 points to round out Carolina's double-figure scorers. As a team, the Bruins shot 76.9 percent from the free-throw line and forced 22 turnovers, converting those opportunities into 26 points.
Following the game, Head Coach Hannah Latiolais praised her team's resilience and growth.
"This group has faced a lot of adversity and a very tough schedule, but they never stopped competing," Latiolais said. "I was proud of the way we stayed together, trusted one another, and finished the game with confidence and toughness."
With the win, Carolina improves to 3–13 on the season and looks to carry the momentum from Sunday's late surge as they prepare for Morris College on Saturday January 17, for 1pm tipoff.
