DURHAM, N.C. - Presbyterian College women's basketball fell 43-38 to NC Central on Saturday night.  It was a low percentage shooting night for Blue Hose as PC was held to a .193 percentage to NCCU's .224.  PC shot .063 from outside making just one three-point basket on the night.

"We really struggled shooting and finishing tonight," said head coach Ronny Fisher.  "We couldn't get any offensive rhythm and that put too much pressure on our defense.  NC Central had some critical offensive rebounds and those hurt us as well.  It was a disappointing performance that we will learn from."

To open the game, PC's defense played strong holding the Eagles scoreless until the 13:15 mark in the first half.  The Blue Hose led 6-0 before the first points from NC Central. 

Two additional points from Sherece Smith (Clemson, S.C.) gave the visitors an 8-2 lead at the 12:58 mark.  PC, however would miss its next 13 shots over the next 11:11.  The Eagles, on the other hand, would rattle off 13 unanswered points to take a 15-8 lead before Dria David (Lawrenceville, Ga.) converted on a pair of free throws with 1:47 left in the opening period.  David would finish the game with eight points 

An additional basket from Chelsea Parker (Asheville, N.C.) cut the NCCU lead to 15-12 in the final minute of the half.  Smith led PC at the break with four points as the Blue Hose trailed by three at the break.  Parker accounted for six points and a team-high six rebounds.

PC erased the deficit out of the break to take a 17-15 lead with less than a minute of the second half gone. 

Before the first media timeout, NCCU went back out to a 24-19 lead. 

The Blue Hose cut the lead down to two points with a free throw from Shonda Burnside (Gray Court, S.C.).  The Eagles, however would go back up by three with a free throw followed by a fast break layup and a foul.  The attempt from the charity stripe was no good but an Eagle rebound was converted into a three-point basket to take an eight point lead.

The lead went to ten points but another Blue Hose rally cut the lead back to four points on a layup from Parker.

At the 5:20 mark in the second half, Burnside blocked her fifth shot of the night.  The block set a new career high and was the most blocks by a Blue Hose since the beginning of the Division I era.  The team also had 13 total steals which set a new D-I team record.    

A layup from Pietrowski left PC down five with 1:09 left in the game.  A quick turnover gave the Blue Hose the ball back with a minute left.  PC missed two shots while NCCU committed another turnover before the Blue Hose were forced to foul at the 0:32 point.  The teams would trade free throws over the final half minute with PC missing a pair of field goals and taking one turnover to fall by five points, 43-38.

PC was charged with 23 turnovers in the game while causing 31 Eagle turnovers.  NCCU converted the miscues to get 18 points off turnovers.

NC Central was led by Jori Nwachukwu's 15 points and nine rebounds. 

PC will regroup and prepare for a Thanksgiving week trip to South Carolina State in Orangeburg on Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on the Blue Hose Sports Network.

Fans can keep up with Blue Hose women's basketball and the rest of PC's 16 intercollegiate sports teams at www.Twitter.com/BlueHoseSports.  There, fans will find exclusive updates you can't find anywhere else.  If video is your quest, check out the BlueTube on www.GoBlueHose.com or www.youtube.com/BlueHoseAthletics.