Game Notes: North Carolina Central at Coppin State

DURHAM, N.C. – The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University are set to hit the road for a four-game road trip beginning with a stop in Baltimore, Md., on Saturday, Jan. 15 against the Coppin State University Eagles.  Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in the Physical Education Complex.

 

Saturday’s matchup marks the second meeting between the two teams, the host Eagles lead the series 1-0.  The first meeting took place in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 20, 2007, with the Lady Eagles falling 58-45.

 

NCCU seniors Jori Nwachukwu and Shanise Blanks competed in the contest.  Nwachukwu hit a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds.  Blanks, who saw 20 minutes of play, netted two points. 

Two Coppin State student-athletes scored in double-figures to lead the Eagles to the win.  Shalamar Oakley netted 21 points, while Rashida Suber hit 19 points.

 

The Lady Eagles enter the contest off a 48-47 loss to Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 10 in Durham, N.C.  Three NCCU student-athletes scored in double-figures, including a double-double from Nwachukwu.  Sophomore J'Mia Pollock earned a season-high 10 points, fellow sophomore Chasidy Williams netted 12 points, while offensive leader Nwachukwu earned her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

 

Coppin State (3-10) hosts the Lady Eagles (2-13) with a Jan. 10, 48-39 win over Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Howard University.  Crystal Whittington led the Eagles’ offense with 15 points, Jeanine Manley followed with 11 points in the win.  Larissa Carter seized nine rebounds, adding to the total 28 boards.

 

Over the course of 15 games, Nwachukwu has a maintained her leading scorer status with 13.1 points per game.  Williams is the second-leading scorer with 12.3 points per game.  Nwachukwu also commands the rebounding game with 8.6 boards per game. As with the offensive campaign, Williams follows at 6.0 rebounds per contest.  This season, Blanks has gone from sharp-shooter to offensive general with 23 assists, while Williams has stolen 28 opponent’s possessions.  Nwachukwu closes out the leaders with blocking, as the forward has blocked 17 shots.

 

Coppin State’s offense is paced by Manley with 10.1 points per game, while she also leads the squad with nine total blocks.  Carter is the second-leading scorer with 9.5 points per contests, while pacing the rebounding effort with 8.5 per game.  Shawntae Payne steers the offense with 33 assists, while Ashle Craig obtains additional possessions with 25 steals this season.

 

As a unit, NCCU averages 49 points per game, nets 31 percent from the field, 20 percent from the long range and 64 percent from the charity stripe.  Coppin State averages 60 (delete percent) points per game, shoots 36 percent from the field, 25 percent from behind the arc and 56 percent from the free-throw line.

 

Lady Eagles fans can catch all of the action live online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Chris Hooks will bring live play-by-play action from Coppin State. Eagle Gameday, the pregame show, will air 15 minutes prior to tip-off.

 

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