LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Makyla Tucker and sophomore Laniya Early combined for 35 points, but the Wilberforce University women's basketball team fell to Simmons Saturday, 86-69, in non-conference action.  

Simmons went on a 13-3 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters to open up a 10-point lead with 8:31 remaining. The Bulldogs' deficit grew to as much as 15 before a late three-pointer pushed the deficit to 17.  

Early on, the Falcons scored 14 of the first 19 points, and the Wilberforce deficit ballooned to 13 points in the first quarter.  

Six different players scored in a pivotal 17-2 spurt that gave Wilberforce its first lead of the game. Tucker was responsible for seven of the 17 points. The Bulldogs forced Simmons to shoot 0-for-6 from the floor with four turnovers. It was the defense in the second quarter that enabled WU to get back into the game. Wilberforce held the Falcons to 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from the field.  

Tucker finished with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, while Early added 13 points and six rebounds. Senior Chenoa Moss pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.  

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES 

• Wilberforce has now lost three straight in the series.  

• Tucker scored at least 20 points for the first time this season, and the fourth time in her career.  

• Freshman Jolisa Butts made her first career start.  

• The Wilberforce reserves outscored their counterparts, 20-18. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

Wilberforce (1-3) travels to Alice Lloyd 6 p.m. Monday in non-conference action.