THE GAME
The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team wraps up the 2013-14 season on the road at Norfolk State (12-14, 8-7 MEAC), as the Lady Eagles (10-18, 5-10 MEAC) wrap up their most winning season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at the division I level since becoming full members during the 2011-2012 season.
 
THE SERIES

• Series Info: Norfolk State Leads 16-6 All-TIme
• Last Meeting: Jan. 22, 2011 | Norfolk State | 66-55 | Norfolk, Va.

THE FREEMAN FILE

• NCCU redshirt senior guard Jessica Freeman leads the Lady Eagles this season averaging 15.2 points per game (10th best in MEAC), shooting 137-for-424 from the field (.323), 58-for-189 from behind the arc (.307) and 64-for-85 from the free throw line (.753). She also leads the team steals (65) and second-best in assists (53).
• The Charlotte native is also ranked No. 26 in the nation as of March 2 in steals per game, averaging 2.52.
• Freeman has scored in double-figures during 22 of the teams 27 match-ups this season with nine 20+ scoring performing, earning a season-high 28 on March 1 during a 60-43 victory over South Carolina State.

 
DAVIS ON THE DOUBLE

• Junior Racquel Davis has collected 12 double-doubles this season (at Presbyterian, at South Florida, vs. Gardner-Webb and vs. Western Carolina, at Florida A&M, at Bethune-Cookman, vs. Coppin State, vs. Morgan State, at Howard, vs. Florida A&M, at South Carolina State and vs. South Carolina State), averaging a team second-best 13.4 points (14th in MEAC) and a team-best 9.0 rebounds (2nd in MEAC) per contest.
• Davis earned a season-best 15 rebounds at Presbyterian (Nov. 14) and 27 points at Florida A&M (Jan. 11).

 
LAST TIME OUT

• DURHAM, N.C. – A 20-5 run powered by the Savannah State Lady Tigers during the final 11:33 of the first half proved to be too much for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team to bounce back from as the Lady Eagles (10-18, 5-10 MEAC) dropped a 74-50 decision to SSU (16-13, 9-6 MEAC) during NCCU's final home contest of the season on Monday in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
• The opening eight minutes of action were headed by Jessica Freeman (Charlotte, N.C.) as the redshirt senior collected eight of the Lady Eagles first 15 points, connecting on back-to-back threes, giving NCCU its largest lead of the contest at the 12:24 mark as the Lady Eagles led SSU 15-9.
• Following the Lady Tigers immense first half ending run, NCCU found itself down by 10 at the intermission as the Lady Eagles trailed SSU 31-21.
• Freeman led NCCU heading into the locker room with 11 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc for the Lady Eagles.
• Returning to the floor for the final 20 minutes of action, NCCU was unable to rekindle its first half fire as the Lady Eagles cut the SSU lead to eight twice, but saw the Lady Tigers pull ahead by as many as 25 at the 6:20 mark.
• During the closing seconds the Lady Tigers knocked down a shot from the wing, giving SSU the 24-point, 74-50 victory of the Lady Eagles.
• In addition to Freeman's 11 points, juniors Racquel Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Khyra Conerly (Oakland, Calif.) also put up double-figure scoring performances during NCCU's shortcoming.
• Davis added a team-best 14 points while pulling down a game-high seven boards, and Conerly collected an additional 11 points and six boards for the Lady Eagles.
• The Lady Tigers were led by Senior Ezinne Kalu who earned a game-best 25 points, six boards, six assists and four steals for SSU while Jasmine Kirkland led the Lady Tigers with seven rebounds.
• As a team, NCCU shot 14-for-52 from the field (26.9%), 4-for-11 from behind the arc (36.4%), 18-for-31 from the free throw line (58.1%), out rebounded SSU 36-34, dished seven assists, while earning three blocks and six steals.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• Rae Corbo leads NSU in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game followed by Rachel Gordon, who is averaging 11.6 points per game. Ebony Brown rounds out the top-three scoring leaders for NSU, averaging 8.5 points per game.
• Rachel Gordon currently ranks No. 7 in the nation in rebounds per game and Rae Corbo is No. 45 in free throw percentage.
• As a team, NSU currently ranks in the top 5 in seven different categories in the MEAC, while NSU players rank in the top 5 in four different categories, including Rachel Gordon, who leads the league in rebounds, averaging 12.0 rebounds per game. Rae Corbo also leads the league in free throw percentage at 85.0 percent on the season.
• Last Time Out four Spartans scored in double figures to give NSU a 61-57 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday afternoon at Joseph Echols Hall. Freshman Dominique Harper led the balanced scoring effort for NSU as she finished the game with 12 points

UP NEXT

• The Lady Eagles return to Norfolk, Va., March 10-15 for the 2014 MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament.