Saturday’s contest initiates a 17-game second-half schedule of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play. Similar to Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) action in previous years, NCCU will host and visit each MEAC program for a men’s and women’s doubleheader.

 

“Returning to ‘conference-style’ play is exciting,” said NCCU head women’s basketball coach Joli Robinson. “Over the last three years that we have not played in a conference, we have traveled to many different universities and we have faced a lot of strong competition. What is unique about our experience out of conference is that the student-athletes were not the only ones learning.”

 

Lady Eagles senior Jori Nwachukwu is the only current member of the team to compete in conference play. During her freshman campaign she was a member of the 2007 CIAA Championship team and was chosen as the CIAA Rookie of the Year.

 

“Jori understands that there is a different style or tempo during conference play,” said Robinson. “As a leader, captain and former CIAA student-athlete she understands and explains to her teammates that the play is more physical, the fans will be rowdier, and that playing a complete game is monumental.”

 

The Lady Eagles (2-11) and the Lady Hornets (3-8) meet for the first time in school history. NCCU hosts Delaware State following a 97-40 loss to No. 8 North Carolina on Jan. 3 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

 

NCCU junior Blaire Houston netted a season-high 17 points during the contest, including 15 points in the first half alone. Her offensive surge, along with Nwachukwu’s four points, paced the Lady Eagles on a 12-0 run at the 11:43 mark, ending the half 39-30.

 

Nwachukwu ended the contest with six points, as sophomore Chasidy Williams scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds. While Winston-Salem, N.C. native J’Mia Pollock seized eight rebounds for the Lady Eagles.

 

Collectively, NCCU obtained 37 rebounds, hit 77 percent from the charity stripe, stole eight No. 8 North Carolina possessions and forced 13 Tar Heel turnovers.

 

The Lady Hornets travel to the Bull City following a 90-58 victory over Wesley College on New Year’s Day at Delaware State. Three student-athletes pilot the Delaware State offense: Tasia Bristow, Kianna Conner and Deanna Harmon.

 

Bristow is the leading scorer with 8.9 points per game. She scored a season-high 25 points in Delaware State’s 62-42 win over Saint Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 22. Conner is the second-leading scorer with 7.6 points per game. Harmon, who is third in scoring campaign at 7.4 points per game, leads the Lady Hornets in assists (27) and steals (22).

 

Three NCCU student-athletes lead the offensive regime: Nwachukwu, Williams and senior Shanise Blanks. Nwachukwu is the leading scorer with 13.1 points per game. She also guides the rebounding game with 8.0 boards per game and has blocked 13 total shots. Williams nets 11.7 points per game, while averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. Three-point sharpshooter Blanks averages 7.2 points per game, along with stealing 24 opponent possessions.

 

Over the course of 13 contests, the Lady Eagles average 49.4 points per game, nets 31 percent from the field, 20 percent from behind the arc and 64 percent from the charity stripe. In 11 Lady Hornet games, the offensive unit averages 52.6 points per game, sinks 33 percent from the field, 30 percent from the long range and 69 percent from the free-throw line.

 

Lady Eagles fans can catch all of the action live online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Paul Doherty and Danielle Johnson-Webb will bring live play-by-play action from McDougald-McLendon Gym. 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.