Game Notes: North Carolina Central at Hampton
DURHAM, N.C. – On Monday, Feb. 7 in Hampton, Va., the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University will enter their most defining battle this season against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference powerhouse Hampton University (16-6 overall, 9-1 MEAC) in the HU Convocation Center with a 6 p.m. tip-off.
Monday night’s matchup will be the 17th meeting between the two programs, Hampton leads 14-2. The Lady Eagles and the Lady Pirates last met 16 years ago on Feb. 20, 1995 in Hampton, Va., as the host team defeated the maroon and grey 51-31.
NCCU visits Hampton following a 66-33 loss to Howard University on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Washington, D.C. Senior Shanise Blanks led the offense with 12-off-the-bench points from the long range.
Along with Blanks’ 12-point offensive contribution, Jenkins netted five points as the second-leading scorer, followed by Neely and Nwachukwu’s four points apiece. Neely grabbed a season-high five NCCU boards, while Solomon distributed three assists.
Blanks’ Saturday afternoon double-figure outing was her second consecutive long range 10+ points performance.
In terms of a total team performance, NCCU seized 25 rebounds, blocked two shots and stole five Bison possessions. The Lady Eagles netted 41 percent from the free-throw line, 29 percent from the field and 27 percent from the three-point arc.
Hampton hosts Monday night’s contest, after a 77-57 victory over South Carolina State on Saturday, Feb. 5. Three Lady Pirates netted in double-figures in the matchup. Highly acclaimed MEAC honoree Quanneisha Perry led the offense with a 25-point and 16-rebound double-double performance. Choicetta McMillian scored 22 points, while Keiara Avant collected 11 points. Jericka Jenkins circulated 17 assists, as Perry blocked three shots.
On the season, two Lady Eagles lead in three categories: seniors Nwachukwu and Blanks. Nwachukwu is the leading scorer at 13.5 points per contest, the top rebounder with 8.9 boards per game and 32 total blocks. Blanks is the third-leading scorer with 7.1 points per contest, 35 assists and 33 steals. Sophomore Chasidy Williams nets an average 11.4 points per game as the second-leading scorer, as junior Blaire Houston rounds out the offensive output with 6.2 points per contest.
NCCU scores 32 percent from the field, 21 percent from field, and 62 percent from the free-throw line for an average 49 points per game.
The Lady Pirates offense is paced by Perry at 13.8 points per game, as Jenkins scores 12.0 per contest, while Nicole Hamilton sinks 11.7 points per game and McMillian tallies 10.0 points per contest. Perry, who leads the MEAC in rebounding, seizes 9.3 boards a game. On the season, Jenkins has amassed 122 assists and 36 steals, the guard is the second-leading assist leader in the MEAC.
Hampton averages 62.3 points per game, scores 39 percent from the field, 32 percent from behind the arc and 68 percent from the charity stripe.
NCCU fans can catch all of the action live online at
www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Paul Doherty will bring live play-by-play action from the Hampton University campus. 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.
