2011-12 Women’s Basketball Information Guide / Game Notes: NCCU vs. Florida A&M

DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – With 13 non-conference contests under their belts, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University are ready to hit the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference road with 15 conference games before entering the 2012 MEAC Tournament in March.  The mighty maroon will begin conference play with a Saturday, Jan. 7 home hardwood matchup with Florida A&M at 2:00 p.m. and a Monday, Jan. 9 contest against Bethune-Cookman at 5:30 p.m.

Based on the MEAC’s scheduling rules, all conference competitions will take place on Saturdays or Mondays with a women’s and men’s doubleheader.

NCCU (2-12) and FAMU (8-5) meet for the fourth time in school history, with the Lady Rattlers leading the series 3-0.  The two squads met twice last season with Florida A&M taking a one-point win during both meetings; 63-62 on Jan. 29, 2011 (Durham, N.C.) and 59-58 on Feb. 26, 2011 (Tallahassee, Fla.).

In the last contest of the two-game series, NCCU graduate Jori Nwachukwu led the squad with 28 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while senior Blaire Houston  dropped 13 points in the loss at FAMU.  The Lady Rattlers achieved the win off of a double-double by Shekeira Copeland with 14 points and 11 rebounds, a team-high 19 points from returner Tameka McKelton and 10 points from returner Jasmine Grice.

The Lady Eagles welcome the Florida-based foes following a 79-42 loss to No. 24 North Carolina on Friday, Dec. 30 in Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In the loss, junior Chasidy Williams led in three categories with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals.  Freshman Kabrina Truesdale collected 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals on the night, while sophomore Tiffany Gary blocked three Tar Heel shots.  Williams and Truesdale lobbed two assists each.

On the night, the maroon and gray was 30 percent from the field on 15-of-50 shooting, 2-of-6 from behind the arc, and 59 percent from the charity stripe, 10-of-17. 

Thus far in the season, the maroon and gray is 36 percent from the field on 265-of-745 shooting, 42-of-151 from behind the arc, and 60 percent from the charity stripe, 133-of-222.
 
During the first-half of competition, Williams has been the Lady Eagles’ beckon of dominance with 205 points, 106 rebounds, 32 steals and nine blocks, while Truesdale has circulated 28 assists.
 
Florida A&M heads north with five-straight wins under its belt and a most recent 69-59 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Monday, Jan. 2 in Tallahassee, Fla.  Four Lady Rattlers netted in double-figures with Qiana Donald leading the squad with 16 points, as Antonia Bennett obtained a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.  Grice finished the contest with 13 points and three steals, while McKelton dropped 10 points in the win.

Lady Eagle supporters can continue their contributions to NCCU head coach Joli Robinson’s “Share the Warmth” campaign, by donating new to gently used outerwear and blankets throughout the 2011-12 season.  Donation bins can be found at the main entrances of the gymnasium.

NCCU 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 Gymnasium.  Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. will air 15 minutes prior to tip-off.   Along with the audio feed, NCCU fans can view a live video stream for $8.95 per game at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

For more information on Lady Eagles Basketball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

Probable Starters...
Blaire Houston is a 5’5” guard from South Plainfield, N.J. 
Tenika Neely is a 5-6 guard from Charlotte, N.C.
Chasidy Williams is a 6’0” forward from Fayetteville, N.C.
Alesha Jenkins is a 6’0” forward from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Tiffany Gary is a 6’1’ forward from Delray Beach, Fla.