Game Notes: South Carolina State at North Carolina Central
DURHAM, N.C. – On Thursday, March 3 the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team will conclude the 2010-11 campaign matching up against the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday night’s contest marks the ninth meeting between the two programs. The Lady Eagles and Lady Bulldogs meet for the second time this season. NCCU faced SCSU on Dec. 4, 2010 as its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe on the season, falling 66-32 in Orangeburg, S.C.
Sophomore J’Mia Pollock’s season-high 11 rebounds were not enough to propel the Lady Eagles past the Lady Bulldogs.
Senior Jori Nwachukwu provided the only NCCU double-digit performance on the night with 12 points and seven boards. Fellow senior Shanise Blanks followed with nine points and a perfect charity line percentage. As a unit, the Lady Eagles grabbed 31 rebounds, earned 20 points in the paint and were 44 percent from the free throw line.
South Carolina State’s offense was paced by Whitney Wiley, who dominated the arc for the Lady Bulldogs. Wiley amassed 22 points, going 6-for-9 from the long range. Cherisha Floyd contributed nine points in the win. Floyd shared the rebounding game with Tracey Flowers at five apiece. The Lady Bulldogs collected 35 rebounds, three blocks and 12 steals on the night.
NCCU welcomes the South Carolina based foes following a 66-60 loss to Bethune-Cookman in overtime in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 28. Sophomore J’Mia Pollock was one of four NCCU student-athletes to score in double-figures. The forward, who finished with 10 points, was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Senior Jori Nwachukwu obtained her 14th double-double of the season, pouring in 15 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Sophomore Chasidy Williams scored 14 points, going 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. Senior Shanise Blanks, sank two three-point baskets finishing up with 10 points.
Collectively, the maroon and grey netted 71 percent from the free-throw line, 36 percent from the field and 23 percent from the long range. NCCU seized 43 boards, blocked five shots and forced 18 B-CU turnovers.
SCSU enters the nest after 76-70 overtime victory over Florida A&M on Monday, Feb. 28 in Tallahessee, Fla.
Nwachukwu, Williams, Blanks and junior Blaire Houston navigate the Lady Eagles offense. Nwachukwu is the leading scorer at 14.9 points per contest, Williams pours in 11.2 points per game, Blanks scores 7.0 points per contest, and Houston rounds out the four with 6.3 points per game.
This matchup not only brings to a close the final basketball season as a provisional program, but also the final contest of three NCCU student-athletes: Jori Nwachukwu, Shanise Blanks and Sheresa Mills. The trio will be honored following the women’s contest.
Nwachukwu hails from Upper Marlboro, Md. She began her career at NCCU in 2006, with the mighty maroon competing in its last season as a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association program. During her time as a Lady Eagle, Nwachuwku competed in 95 games, while starting in 87 contests.
The 2010-11 leading scorer provided three stellar consecutive seasons until Nwachukwu fell to an ACL injury towards the end of her junior year. She returned to the NCCU women’s basketball team this season, and has been an offensive and rebounding juggernaut.
Over the course of her athletic career, Nwachukwu was voted All-CIAA, CIAA Rookie of Year and CIAA All-Rookie Team, selected to CIAA All-Tournament Team, received five CIAA Rookie of the Week honors (2006-07); Lady Eagle Classic Most Valuable Player, amassed a career-high 35 points against Fayetteville State on Dec. 8, 2007 (2007-08); was named to the 2008-09 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association University Division All-State Second Team, NCAA Division I All-Independent First Team selection and two-time Heritage Sports Radio Network National Player of Week and earned NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors for January, and was an Air-Force Academy All-Tournament team selection (2008-09).
Statistically, Nwachukwu has amassed 1403 points, blocked 98 shots, snatched 843 rebounds, while averaging 63 percent from the charity stripe and 45 percent from the field over and 29 minutes of play. She has complied 32 double-double outings including 14 in this season alone.
This season, Nwachukwu amassed a career-high 433 points, 42 blocks and 274 rebounds.
Blanks entered the nest in 2007 from Wilmington, N.C. In four years of play, the guard has hit the hardwood in 99 games, 29 of which she started. Over four years of play, Blanks provided 21 double-figure performances, led in 3-pointers with 64 and 3-point field goal percentage, hitting an impressive 36.4 percent from behind the arc and poured in a career-high 25 points against Shaw on Jan. 13, 2010 (2009-10).
Statistically, Blanks has earned 568 points, stolen 109 opponent’s possessions and distributed 143 assists. While sinking 72 percent from the free-throw line, 26 percent from the long range and 27 percent from the field over the course 22.4 minutes.
On the season, Blanks has scored 196 points, earned career-highs in blocking (4), assists (46) and rebounding (80).
Rounding out senior class from Greenville, N.C., is Sheresa Mills. Mills join the Lady Eagles in 2007 along with Blanks. The forward has appeared in 60 games and started in 15 contests.
Statistically, Mills has earned 54 points, stolen 22 opponent’s possessions and distributed 39 assists. While sinking 42 percent from the free-throw line and 35 percent from the field over the course 9.7 minutes.
NCCU fans can catch all of the action online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Chris Hooks will bring live play-by-play action from McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. 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.
