GAME NOTES #18: NCCU at Howard
GAME NOTES #19: NCCU at Md. Eastern Shore
DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team sits in the upper half of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings and will try and remain amongst the league leaders when the Eagles visit Howard University on Saturday at 2 p.m. and University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Jonathan Duren will be on the NCCU Sports Network providing a free audio play-by-play for those fans that cannot attend either contest. Fans can follow NCCU women's basketball all season by visiting
NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
Game Info
Saturday, January 20, 2:00 PM – N.C. Central at Howard
Burr Gymnasium, Washington, D.C.
WATCH |
LISTEN |
STATS
Monday, January 22, 5:30 PM – N.C. Central at Eastern Shore
Hytche Arena, Princess Anne, Md.
LISTEN |
STATS
N.C. Central Women's Basketball
The Eagles have won three of their first four conference contests and are coming off home wins against Coppin State University (60-52) and Morgan State University (60-57). NCCU (5-11 Overall, 3-1 MEAC) sits in sole possession of fifth place in the league standings out of 13 teams. The 3-1 mark in conference play is NCCU's best start since joining the league in 2011-12.
Sophomore forward
Paulina Afriyie was selected MEAC Defensive Player of the Week for a second straight week. Afriyie, who is averaging 8.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, has been producing 14.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in four conference contests.
Junior guard
Rodneysha Martin is NCCU's top scorer at 12.8 points per game and playmaker at 2.2 assists per game. The Eagles next four top scorers in sophomore
Kieche White (6.8 ppg), junior
Sami Oliver-Alexander (6.4), junior
Jayla Calhoun (5.9) and junior
Caira Benton (5.1) all average within two points of each other.
Freshman
Alyssa Thompson is coming off her best performance for the maroon and gray where she totaled season-high sums of 14 points and nine rebounds.
NCCU lost both of its games against Howard University last season, including a 73-50 decision in Durham and a 62-48 setback in Washington, D.C. Sophomore
Jada Blow averaged 17.5 points per game in the two tilts against the Bison, including a 24-point performance in the second encounter where she nailed six 3-pointers.
The Eagles split last year's series against Maryland Eastern Shore with the home team winning each time. Martin poured in 25 points in NCCU's 68-59 home win and junior
Deja McCain led NCCU's returnees with eight points in the 73-51 road loss.
Howard Women's Basketball
The Bison have won their last two games and are coming off their most lopsided win of the season, an 87-59 victory at Savannah State University. Howard (6-11 Overall, 2-2 MEAC) lost at Bethune-Cookman University (59-55) and Florida A&M University (74-59) before getting its first MEAC win at South Carolina State University (68-58).
Sophomore guard Ayonna Williams is the reigning MEAC Player of the Week after averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals in road wins against the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Tigers. Williams is averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season.
Fellow sophomore guard Sarah Edmond has taken over the team lead with 13.8 points and 3.2 assists per game as Howard lost its MEAC Player of the Year in Te'Shya Heslip. Freshman Curstyn Moore (7.3 ppg), senior Tajzhane Dopson (6.9), and sophomore Jayla Myles (6.5) provide scoring depth for the Bison. Dopson and Myles both average over five rebounds per game.
Howard's top three scorers in both of last year's wins against NCCU are no longer with the program.
Maryland Eastern Shore Basketball
The Hawks suffered a 54-51 road loss at South Carolina State University on Monday. Eastern Shore (4-13 Overall, 1-4 MEAC) got in the league win column at Savannah State University (68-56) and will host North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday before entering the Eagles on Monday.
Freshman forward Bairesha Gill-Miles has immediately become an impact player for the Hawks, leading the squad with 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She has won four MEAC Rookie of the Week awards.
Junior guard Ciani Byrom – a MEAC All-Rookie honoree in 2015-16 – also averages double-figure scoring with 10.3 points per game. Senior guard Martha Thompson provides 7.6 points per game and team-best averages of 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Senior forward Jordyn Smith adds 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Alexus Hicks, who is 6.1 points, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals this season, averaged 11.5 points in Eastern Shore's two clashes against NCCU last season.
