The Winston-Salem State University graduate will add another highlight to her resume on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium as she leads Lady Eagles into battle against No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers.  Tuesday’s contest marks the first time in the school’s history that NCCU hosts a nationally-ranked basketball program.

 

“We are playing a competitive basketball season,” said Robinson.  “These high level competitions keep us prepared for each opponent we face.”

 

The maroon and grey and the old gold and blue met for the first time during the 2008-09 season.  West Virginia opened its season in a 70-31 win over NCCU.  

 

The Lady Eagles welcome the Mountaineers following a 50-48 victory over Liberty University on Saturday, Dec. 18 on the NCCU hardwood.

 

NCCU sophomore Chasidy Williams led her fellow Lady Eagles to the upset win with a season-high 18 points.  While Williams was the only student-athlete to score in double figures, seven Lady Eagles contributed to the offense in key momentum-changing moments.

 

NCCU senior Shanise Blanks earned six points, two of which she hit from behind the arc.  Blanks’ first three-pointer broke the Liberty led in the first half of play and her second three-pointer cut the points margin to one during the second half.

 

Lady Eagles’ senior leader Jori Nwachukwu scored seven points, her game defining point came at the 3:24 mark of the second half.  The 6-foot forward hit a two-pointer to take the lead and lay the foundation for the victory.

 

On the season, Nwachukwu and Williams pace the NCCU offense with 14.0 and 12.1 points per game, respectively.  The rebounding game is led by three student-athletes - J’Mia Pollock (3.7), Williams (5.9) and Nwachukwu (8.3).  Blanks and Williams force a combined 38 opponent turnovers.

 

NCCU averages 50.7 seven points per game, hits 32.6 percent from the field, 20.9 percent from behind the arc and 63 percent from the charity stripe.

 

No. 6 West Virginia enters the contest with a perfect record of 11-0, after an 83-55 win over Saint Francis (Pennsylvania) on Saturday, Dec. 18.   

 

During the 28-point victory, Madina Ali, Asya Bussie and Korinne Campbell scored in double-figures.  Ali led the offensive campaign with 18 points, Bussie scored 17 points and Campbell earned 11 points.  Ali and Bussie grabbed seven rebounds apiece.

 

In their 11-game winning streak, the Mountaineers have earned 10 double-digit wins, including a 39-point victory over Elon.

 

This season, Ali and Liz Repella lead the offense with 14.7 and 13.0 points per game, respectively.  Both student-athletes are highly effective from the field and the charity stripe. Ali shoots 65 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line, while Repella hits 73 percent from the free-throw line.  Ali also paces the rebounding game with 7.4 boards per game.  Brooke Hampton sets the West Virginia offense in motion with 39 total assists. Bussie has blocked 18 opponents’ shots, while Repella steals 25 adversary possessions.

 

On the season, the Mountaineers average 70 points a game, score 44 percent from the field, shoot 32.6 percent from behind the arc, and are 62.4 percent from the charity stripe.

 

For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.