ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Morgan State used a decisive third-quarter surge to defeat South Carolina State 73-47 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Monday at SHM Memorial Center. The Bears, who led 38-32 at halftime, broke the game open by outscoring the Bulldogs 28-6 in the third quarter. Jael Butler led Morgan State with 16 points. Shaunice Reed scored 17 points for South Carolina State in the loss. Morgan State improved to 4-22 overall. South Carolina State fell to 5-19. An announced crowd of 100 attended the game.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a season defined by struggles, the Morgan State women’s basketball team found a rare and decisive victory Monday afternoon, overwhelming South Carolina State 73-47 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest at SHM Memorial Center. The visiting Bears, who entered the game with just three wins, seized control early and never relented, snapping a three-game losing streak and improving to 4-22 overall. The Bulldogs fell to 5-19. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the third quarter, where Morgan State transformed a competitive matchup into a lopsided affair. Leading 38-32 at halftime, the Bears erupted with a 28-point third quarter while holding South Carolina State to a mere six points. That 22-point swing, from a six-point lead to a 28-point advantage, effectively decided the outcome long before the final buzzer. Morgan State’s dominance was fueled by a commanding performance in the paint and a disruptive defensive effort. Jael Butler, a 6-foot-2 forward from Gilroy, California, was particularly instrumental during the game-changing run. She scored 16 points, grabbed rebounds, and recorded two blocks in just 13 minutes of action, providing an explosive spark off the bench. Her interior presence overwhelmed the Bulldogs early and set the tone for the rout. The Bears’ backcourt also played a key role. Michaela Bogans of Augusta, Georgia, orchestrated the offense with a team-high five assists to go with 11 points in 37 minutes, while also contributing defensively with multiple steals. Kailyn Nash of Muskegon, Michigan, added 12 points and four assists, and Selina Gutierrez of Las Vegas, Nevada, chipped in 10 points. For South Carolina State, the offensive burden fell primarily on Shaunice Reed of Seattle, Washington, who finished with a game-high 17 points. Lemyiah Harris of Anniston, Alabama, added 13 points, but the Bulldogs’ attack was otherwise stifled, committing numerous turnovers that Morgan State converted into easy transition opportunities. The game began with Morgan State establishing an early lead, closing the first quarter ahead 21-14. South Carolina State managed to keep pace in the second quarter, trailing by just six at the intermission, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished by the Bears’ overwhelming third-quarter performance. Morgan State’s intensity waned only after the outcome was certain, as they scored just seven points in the final period. The victory provided a bright spot in a difficult season for Morgan State, which had lost 10 of its last 11 games coming in, including a 62-59 defeat to these same Bulldogs on Jan. 10. South Carolina State, meanwhile, continued its own struggles, having now lost four consecutive games. The announced attendance was 100. Morgan State will look to build on the win when it hosts Delaware State on Saturday. South Carolina State is scheduled to host North Carolina Central on Wednesday.

Preview: Morgan State Bears at South Carolina State Bulldogs ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt lengthy slides will meet Monday when the South Carolina State Bulldogs host the Morgan State Bears in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup. The game, scheduled for Feb. 16, 2026, features programs with a combined 8-40 overall record. South Carolina State (5-18) enters on a five-game losing streak, most recently a 72-39 home loss to Coppin State on Thursday. Morgan State (3-22) has lost eight straight, including a 66-63 overtime heartbreaker at North Carolina Central on Feb. 12. The Bulldogs won the season’s first meeting, 62-59, at Morgan State on Jan. 10. A key player to watch for the visiting Bears is guard Tiyanna James, who is coming off a season-high 23-point performance in the overtime loss to North Carolina Central. James has been a consistent minutes-leader for Morgan State but will look to find more scoring consistency after being held to single digits in three of her last four games prior to that outburst. For South Carolina State, forward Ja’Siiyah Holmes will be a focal point defensively. Holmes has recorded three blocks in three of her last five contests, including a three-block effort in the loss to Coppin State. Her presence inside will challenge a Morgan State team that has struggled offensively, failing to reach 60 points in 10 of its last 11 games. Both teams have endured difficult seasons, marked by offensive droughts. The Bulldogs have been held under 50 points in three of their last five games, while the Bears have lost 12 of their last 13 contests. With the MEAC tournament approaching, Monday’s game represents a critical opportunity for either squad to build momentum and secure a rare conference victory. The matchup may hinge on which team can generate a sustained offensive rhythm and capitalize on what is likely to be a closely contested, defensive struggle.