GAME NOTES #1: Longwood at N.C. Central

DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team will play its first game under the leadership of new head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom when the Lady Eagles entertain Longwood University in an Education Day game on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
 
Tuesday's non-conference game inside McDougald-McLendon Arena will be FREE admission.
 
NCCU will be providing FREE live video, audio and stats for those that cannot attend the contest. Mike Wood will be on the air providing the play-by-play. Fans can follow NCCU women's basketball all season by visiting NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
Game Info

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 11 AM – Longwood at N.C. Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
 
N.C. Central Women's Basketball
 
The Eagles are coming off an 8-21 campaign in 2016-17. NCCU was picked last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Poll out of 13 teams.
 
Stafford-Odom will be guiding a roster that has an equal number of seven letter winners and seven newcomers (two will red shirt this season). NCCU's top four returning scorers all has similar production on the offensive side of the court in junior guard Dominique Adams (6.6 ppg), sophomore guard Jada Blow (6.4), junior guard Rodneysha Martin (5.7) and junior forward Deja McCain (5.4).
 
Adams, who also pulled down 4.7 rebounds per game, led the MEAC with 36 minutes played per contest. McCain was second on the squad in both rebounds (5.3) and steals (1.2). Sophomore forward Paulina Afriyie ranked in the top 20 of the MEAC in both rebounding (5.5) and blocks (0.6) her rookie season.
 
Senior Kierona Morton and junior Jayla Calhoun round out NCCU's veterans. NCCU's five active newcomers include two freshmen and three transfers.
 
NCCU last played Longwood in Farmville, Virginia, on Nov. 24, 2015 and lost 60-49. McCain, Adams, Calhoun and Martin all played in that contest as freshmen reserves. The Eagles hold the all-time series advantage over the Lancers by a slim 3-2 edge.
 
Longwood Women's Basketball
 
The Lancers were doubled-up in their opener at Marshall University, 90-45, on Friday. Longwood (0-1) finished the 2016-17 season with a 4-26 overall record and a 1-17 mark in the Big South Conference.
 
A trio of Longwood players scored nine points against the Thundering Herd. Senior Micaela Ellis, who was the only Lancer to start all 30 games last season. Ellis averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 assists per game last year. She added four more dimes against Marshall. Ellis also had six assists in Longwood's 11-point victory over NCCU two seasons ago as the Lancers have won the last two meetings against the Eagles.
 
Freshman Que King and junior transfer Kristina Antonenko matched Ellis with nine points apiece.
 
Sophomore Dayna Rouse is Longwood's top returning scorer at 8.8 points per game. Senior Autumn Childress did the same on the backboards with 5.5 rebounds per game a year ago.