DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University head women’s basketball coach Joli Robinson will lead her program into battle against its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent this season on Saturday, Dec. 4 in Orangeburg, S.C. facing the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State (1-3).
Saturday’s 4 p.m. match-up marks the eighth meeting between the two programs. The Lady Eagles and the Bulldogs met last season on the NCCU campus in the McDougald-McLendon Gym. Former Lady Eagle Joanna Miller led the squad to an 84-54 victory over SCSU.
NCCU senior Shanise Blanks dominated the arc, amassing 17 points and sinking 5-of-7 three-pointers. Junior Blaire Houston earned a season-high 12 points, while going 8-for-11 from the charity line. Sophomore J’Mia Pollock grabbed eight rebounds and attained a season-high five blocks during last year’s match-up.
NCCU dominated in just about every category, shooting 45.1 percent from the field, its second-best shooting percentage of the 2009-10 campaign and hitting 43.8 percent from long range. The Lady Eagles remained consistent from the free throw line with at 79.5 percent.
Defensively, the Lady Eagles held SCSU way below their average in field goals and 3-point shots with at 24.2 percent and a 18.2 percent 3-point shooting outing. NCCU forced 25 turnovers, in which they scored 28 points off of, while notching a game-high 15 steals.
NCCU and SCSU equally dominated the boards with 43 rebounds apiece.
South Carolina State finished with three players in double-digits. Sophilia Hipps and Paris Alston earned 13 points apiece. Whitney Wiley added 10 points for the Lady Bulldogs. Joi Walker dominated the glass with a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Lady Eagles hit the Palmetto State hardwood following a 60-62 loss to Winthrop University (Dec. 2).
NCCU senior Jori Nwachukwu obtained her third double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Chasidy Williams contributed a season-high 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals on the night. Senior Shanise Blanks added 10 points on the loss.
Nwachukwu leads the Lady Eagles offense, averaging 15.0 points per game, while grabbing an average 10.0 rebounds a game and blocking nine opponent’s shots. Williams follows her fellow returner with an average 11.3 points. The forward leads in steals with 13. NCCU enters the contest with a record of 1-5.
The Lady Bulldogs host the Lady Eagles following a 44-66 loss to Clemson on Nov. 28. During the contest, Wiley put forth her third double-digit performance with 11 points. Sophomore Trinese Fox grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
South Carolina State’s offense is paced by Wiley averaging 10.8 points per game. Wiley also leads in steals with 11. Lady Bulldogs Walker and sophomore Tiana Hemphill dominate the boards with 20 apiece.
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.
