Game Notes: University of Maryland Eastern Shore vs. North Carolina Central
DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team (2-12) will host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, Jan. 10 for their last home game before their four-game road trip. Tip-off is slated for
2:00 p.m. (changed from 5:30 p.m. due to winter weather warning) in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
NCCU has faced the MEAC foe four times in school history; UMES leads the series 3-1.
The two programs met twice last season, the most recent contest was in Princess Anne, Md. on Jan. 27. The Lady Hawks defeated the Lady Eagles, 64-43. NCCU’s unbalanced offense lead to 32 turnovers, which UMES capitalized on with 25 points. Adding to the Lady Eagles’ last season’s offensive troubles were the Lady Hawks 15 stolen possessions.
Former NCCU student-athletes Joanna Miller and Danielle DeBerry paced the offense with double-figures. Miller led with 18 points, while DeBerry finished with 10 points.
The UMES offense was led by Chelsea Sanders and Casey Morton. Sanders and Morton netted in double-figures with 18 and 15 points, respectively.
NCCU enters the contest coming off a 69-48 loss to Delaware State on Jan. 8 in Durham,
N.C. Sophomore Chasidy Williams netted a season-high 20 points for the Lady Eagles
Along with Williams’ season-high performance, senior Jori Nwachukwu and Houston scored nine points apiece. Nwachukwu paced the rebounding game by grabbing 11 boards. Blanks finished with five points for the Lady Eagles.
The home team grabbed 45 rebounds, blocked four shots (three of which were blocks by Nwachukwu), stole nine Lady Hornet possessions, and forced 21 turnovers.
The Lady Eagles were 31 percent from the field, 25 percent from the long range and 50 percent from the charity stripe.
UMES enters the contest following a 73-62 loss to South Carolina State on Jan. 8. Kwinnyata Mercer scored in double-figures for the Lady Hawks with 15 points. LaKendra Wilkerson paced the rebounding game with eight boards. Casey Morton conducted the offense with five assists.
This season, Nwachukwu leads the Lady Eagles in average points per game (12.8), rebounds (8.2 pg), minutes (29.4 pg) and with 16 total blocks. Williams trails Nwachukwu with 12.3 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game, while Blanks has distributed 21 assists and stolen 25 opponents’ possessions.
UMES’ offense is lead by Mercer (10.0 ppg) and Morton (9.8 ppg). Chena Parker leads the Lady Hawks rebounding at 4.5 boards. Adobi Agbasi has blocked 8 shots this season, while Morton has dispersed 22 assists and stolen 18 opponents’ possessions.
As a unit, NCCU scores 49.3 points per game, hits 31 percent from the field, 20 percent from behind the arc and 63 percent from the free throw line. While UMES averages 52.8 points per game, shots 34 percent from the field, 30 percent from the long range and 62 percent from the charity stripe.
Lady Eagle 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 Eagle basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
