Final Statistics

NORFOLK, Va. – The Tidewater area has been beneficial to senior Jori Nwachukwu’s career. The 6-2 forward led the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles with her eighth double-double this season, netting a season-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. However, her stellar performance along with Chasidy Williams’ and Blaire Houston’s double-figures outing was not enough to secure a win. The Lady Eagles fell 55-66 in Joseph Echols Hall on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. on the Norfolk State campus.

 

Nwachukwu continues to pace the Lady Eagles’ offense. Her season-high performance advances her to sixth place on the career points list, above Von Fulmore (1984-87) with 1,215 points. This is her second season-high performance at Norfolk State.

 

Williams, who ended the first-half of play with two points, concluded the contest with 15 points for NCCU, while Houston finished with 10 points. Lady Eagles’ sophomore J’Mia Pollock rounded out the leading scorers with eight points, while pulling down five rebounds.

 

NCCU began the game with a solid start. At the 16:03 mark, the Lady Eagles paced to a six-point lead, initiated by a mid-court jumper by Pollock.

 

Following a media timeout, the Spartans’ offense quickly decreased the deficit. Tyisha Bridges, who finished with seven points, hit her only free-throw of the contest to bring the margin to three. From Bridges’ made free-throw at the 11:09 mark, NSU went on a 16-4 run to take the lead, holding the Lady Eagles to a seven-point deficit.

 

NCCU’s Pollock snapped the Spartan run, pacing the Lady Eagles on three minute 8-5 run, ending the half at 33-28.

 

While Nwachukwu and Williams had a breakout second half, the host team dominated the first six-minutes of play, pacing to a 13-point lead by the 14:42 mark, 43-30. Williams stopped the NSU run by sinking five consecutive points, bringing NCCU within eight, 43-35.

 

With a layup by Nwachukwu at the 7:06 mark, the maroon and grey closed the margin to four points for a score of 51-47. But a two-point shot by NSU’s game-leader Rae Corbo paced the 11-point Spartan victory.

 

As a team, NCCU outscored NSU 46-34 in the paint, netting 40 percent from the field. With Nwachukwu and Williams scoring well over 50 percent from the charity stripe, the Lady Eagles hit 56 percent from the free-throw. The host defense held the visitors to a season-low three long range attempts. The Lady Eagles seized 32 rebounds, blocked five NSU shots and stole nine Spartan possessions.

 

Corbo led the Spartans offense with a game-high 21 points. Batavia Owens came off the bench as the second-leading scorer with 11 points. Rachel Gordon and Marian Brooks guided the rebounding game with eight boards apiece. Gordon also supplied NSU’s two blocks of the contest.

 

As a unit, the green and gold scored 46 percent from the field, 23 percent from the three-point arc and 69 percent from the free-throw line. The Spartans collected 36 rebounds, stole 13 NCCU possessions and blocked two shots.

 

NCCU drops to 2-16 this season, while Norfolk State advances to 7-8 on the season.

 

The Lady Eagles conclude their road stint with mega rival North Carolina A&T State on Monday, Jan. 24 in Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

 

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 North Carolina A&T 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.