Game Notes: North Carolina Central at Norfolk State
DURHAM, N.C. – The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University (2-15) continue their travels with a Saturday evening matchup on Jan. 22 in Norfolk, Va., against the Spartans of Norfolk State University (6-8). Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. in Echols Hall.
The maroon and grey and the green and gold meet for the 21st time in school history. The two teams last met on Jan. 15, 2010 in Norfolk, Va. NCCU senior Jori Nwachukwu earned her career-high 34 points in the 77-61 victory over the host team. Adding to her offensive milestone, the Upper Marlboro, Md., native grabbed 13 rebounds and circulated three assists. Current team members, Chasidy Williams and Blaire Houston also scored in double-figures. Williams collected 14 points and six rebounds. Houston who was perfect from the field and the free-throw line netted 10 points.
Norfolk State had one student-athlete score in double-figures. Danielle Tate led the Spartans with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Eagles enter the contest after a 44-42 loss to Morgan State University on Monday, Jan. 17 in Baltimore, Md. Two NCCU student-athletes netted in double-figures in the two-point loss, Nwachukwu, who finished with her seventh double-double, scored 12 points. Houston followed with 11 points, while seizing seven rebounds. Sophomore J’Mia Pollock was the second-leading rebounder with nine boards.
The Spartans host Saturday’s contest after a 65-43 loss to Howard on Monday, Jan. 17. Norfolk State’s Batavia Owens led the Spartans with a double-double, 15 points and 13 rebounds. Marian Brooks and Rae Corbo scored six points apiece, while Rachel Gordon pulled down six boards.
This season, the Lady Eagles offense is paced by Nwachukwu, Williams, Shanise Blanks and Houston. Nwachukwu leads with 13.2 points per game, while Williams succeeds with 12.3 points per contest. Blanks, who is 78 percent from the charity stripe, nets 7.0 points per game. Houston rounds out the leading scorers with 6.1 points per contest.
As a unit, the maroon and grey average 49 points per contest, and score 31 percent from the field, 20 percent from the long range and 63 percent from the free-throw line.
Whitney Long, Rae Corbo and Sarah Daily lead the Norfolk State offense. Long paces the offensive campaign with 11.8 points per game, Corbo is the second-leading scorer with 9.9 points per contest and Daily is the third-leading scorer with 9.6 points per game. Recca Trice commands the offense this season with 47 assists, while Corbo has stolen 23 opponent’s possessions.
Collectively, the Spartans average 61 points per contest, and hit 40 percent from the field, 34 percent from the behind the three-point arc and 60 percent from the charity stripe.
NCCU fans can catch all of the action live online at
www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Chris Hooks will bring live play-by-play action from Norfolk State University. 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.
