GAME NOTES #15: Norfolk State at NCCU

DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's basketball will try and remain undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play when the Eagles host Norfolk State University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
 
NCCU will be providing FREE live video, audio and stats for those that cannot attend the contest inside McDougald-McLendon Arena. Mike Wood will be on the air providing the play-by-play on the NCCU Sports Network. Fans can follow NCCU women's basketball all season by visiting NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
Game Info
 
Monday, Jan. 8, 5:30 PM – Norfolk State at NCCU
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
 
N.C. Central Women's Basketball
 
The Eagles started off the New Year with a 74-67 comeback win at MEAC foe Delaware State University on Wednesday. NCCU (3-11 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) trailed by 21 points in the second half before rallying for its first road win which snapped an eight-game losing streak.
 
Sophomore forward Paulina Afriyie notched her fourth double-double of the season after scoring a career-high 22 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds against the Hornets. Afriyie has scored in double digits in six consecutive games to increase her scoring average to 8.3 points per game. She also leads the Eagles with 7.0 rebounds per game, 0.9 blocks per game and 47.3% field goal percentage.
 
Junior Rodneysha Martin is NCCU's leading scorer with 12.9 points per game, playmaker with 2.4 assists per game, thief with 1.4 steals per game and free throw shooter (83.0%).
 
Junior Sami Oliver-Alexander (7.3 ppg) and freshman Kieche White (6.5 ppg) join Martin as sharpshooters. The trio all rank in the top-15 in the MEAC in made 3-pointers per game.
 
NCCU dropped its last showdown with Norfolk State, 71-40, last season. Junior Deja McCain, who is averaging over three points and three rebounds per game this season, paced the Eagles against the Spartans with a career-high 14 points and six rebounds.
 
Norfolk State Women's Basketball
 
The Spartans are the hottest team in the MEAC right now, having won six straight games and are coming off a 71-57 home win against Coppin State University in their league opener. Norfolk State (8-5 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) was picked fourth in the conference's preseason poll.
 
Senior forward Kayla Roberts is a reigning First Team All-MEAC performer who ranks fifth in the league with 14.0 points per game, 11th with 6.8 rebounds per game and third with 1.6 blocks per game.
 
Junior transfer Raven Russell is bucketing 11.2 points per game in her first season at NSU. The Spartans next three top scorers in junior guard Alexys Long (9.5 ppg), senior guard Gabrielle Swinson (8.3 ppg) and junior center Khadedra Croker (7.5 ppg) all average over five rebounds per game.
 
Roberts just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds in last year's 31-point victory over NCCU. Norfolk State held the Eagles to 21.7% shooting and the league's current top shot-blocking team made 12 blocks in that contest.