Bethune-Cookman defeated Florida Memorial 102-30 in women’s basketball on Nov. 2 at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla., opening the 2026-27 season with a win. The victory gave Demetria Frank her first win as Bethune-Cookman’s head coach and moved the team to 1-0. Bethune-Cookman opened the game with a 16-0 run and led 25-2 after the first quarter.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to 50-11 at halftime and 76-17 after three quarters. Bethune-Cookman also went on a 29-0 scoring run in the first half. The result marked the team’s first game of the season.
Defense fuels Bethune-Cookman’s start
Bethune-Cookman forced 32 turnovers and converted them into 38 points. The Wildcats added 43 points in transition while holding Florida Memorial to 17.3 percent shooting from the field. Nine Bethune-Cookman players recorded at least one steal.
Jarahle Daniels and Mayla Ham each had five steals. Akilah Shelton recorded three blocks, while Tahjae Hawes had two. Bethune-Cookman outrebounded Florida Memorial 57-33 and shot 52.5 percent from the field.
Five Wildcats score in double figures
Hawes led Bethune-Cookman with 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Kayla Lee scored 16 points off the bench on 7-for-13 shooting, while Alannah Nerocker added 12 points. Shelton and Daniels each finished with 10 points, with Shelton collecting a team-high nine rebounds and Daniels contributing four assists.
Marley Bell scored nine points after going 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. Twelve Bethune-Cookman players scored, and the bench produced 57 of the team’s 102 points. Bethune-Cookman made 9 of 18 free-throw attempts.
Next game
Bethune-Cookman will play at South Carolina State on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The game will be the team’s first road contest of the season. Bethune-Cookman’s schedule also includes road games at Utah, BYU and Utah State before a Nov. 19 home matchup with North Florida.
FSB Take
Bethune-Cookman’s opener showed how defensive pressure and scoring depth can shape a game from the opening minutes. The Wildcats forced 32 turnovers, scored 38 points off those turnovers and received 57 points from their bench. The road game at South Carolina State will provide the first opportunity to carry that defensive activity and depth away from Moore Gymnasium.
Source: Original report