Game Notes

DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles (1-4) hope to end their losing streak as they face their second Big South Conference opponent, the Winthrop University Lady Eagles (1-4), on Thursday, Dec. 2 in McDougald-McLendon Gym at 6 p.m.

The Battle of the Lady Eagles marks the second meeting between NCCU and Winthrop. The two programs met for the first time during the 2009-10 campaign, with the maroon and grey falling 39-57 in Rock Hill, S.C.

During the first meeting, senior Shanise Blanks led the Lady Eagles with 11 points. Junior Blaire Houston contributed to game with eight points and two assists. Senior Sheresa Mills came off the bench to add eight points, five rebounds and three steals over 23 minutes of play.

NCCU forced 13 Winthrop turnovers and held the Lady Eagles offense to less than 40 percent from the field and the arch.

Even though Winthrop controlled the game from the opening tip, NCCU never gave up. The Lady Eagles managed to pull together a second half rally that cut a 26-point deficit to 11 with six minutes left in the game.

Winthrop had three players score in double-figures as Chanel White recorded a career-high 13 points and grabbed nine boards to lead the way for the Lady Eagles. Kaitlyn Rubino and Jessica Fansler had 10 points apiece. The NCCU defense held Winthrop’s leading scorer Shanice Cole to only three points.

NCCU returns to the nest following their participation in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Honolulu, Hawaii. During three days of competition, the Lady Eagles fell to the University of Hawaii (47-82), Gonzaga (52-94) and Long Beach State (61-78).

Lady Eagles’ senior Jori Nwachukwu earned her second double-double of the season earning 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against Long Beach State. Junior Chasidy Williams obtained a season-high 14 points and eight rebounds against the University of Hawaii. Joining Williams with another 14-point offensive effort was Blanks. 

Bud Childers enters his seventh season as the Winthrop head women’s basketball coach. Childers has become the school’s all-time wins leader with 72 victories.   

Leading the offensive effort for the garnet and gold is senior Lacey Lyons and freshmen Dequesha McClanahan and Tiffany Charles. Lyons currently leads Winthrop with 51 total points and averages 10.2 points per game. The guard opened the season with 19 points against Belmont (Nov. 11).

 

McClanahan follows Lyons with 44 points and 13 steals over the course of five games. The Oak Ridge, Tenn. native earned a career-high 26 points against Virginia Commonwealth (Nov. 17). McClanahan averages 8.8 points per game.

 

Charles is the third-leading scorer with 35 points, averaging 7.0 points per game. She began her freshman campaign with a career-high 12 points against Belmont. Junior center TaQuoia Hammick dominates the Winthrop boards with 42 rebounds, grabbing 8.4 boards per game. 

 

As a team, Winthrop averages 48.8 points per game. Lady Eagles are 30 percent from the field, 27 percent from the arch and 62 percent from the free throw line. 

 

Winthrop enters the contest after a 40-70 loss to Lander University (Nov. 27).

For more information on Lady Eagles Basketball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.