GAME NOTES #23: NCCU at Florida A&M
GAME NOTES #24: NCCU at Bethune-Cookman (will be posted online Sunday)

DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team next visits the Sunshine State for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdowns against Florida A&M University (Saturday, 4 PM) and Bethune-Cookman University (Monday, 5:30 PM).
 
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, February 10, 4:00 PM – N.C. Central at Florida A&M
Al Lawson Center, Tallahassee, Fla.
WATCH | LISTEN
 
Monday, February 12, 5:30 PM – N.C. Central at Bethune-Cookman
Moore Gymnasium, Daytona Beach, Fla.
WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
 
N.C. Central Women's Basketball
 
The Eagles had a three-game home win streak come to an end on Monday in a 62-53 loss to defending MEAC Tournament champion Hampton University. NCCU (6-16 Overall, 4-5 MEAC) currently sits in eighth place in the league standings out of 13 teams.
 
Sophomore forward Paulina Afriyie has recorded a double-double in each of her last two games. In addition to scoring 9.4 points per game, ranks in the top five of the MEAC with 8.1 rebounds per game and a field-goal percentage of 47.5%. Afriyie has seven double-doubles on the year and is averaging a double-double in nine conference clashes (12.6 points, 10.6 rebounds).
 
Junior guard Rodneysha Martin continues to pace NCCU in the scoring column at 13.4 points per game (seventh in the MEAC). Martin is one of the top free throw shooters in the league (82.3%) and leads the Eagles with 2.2 assists per game.
 
NCCU's next two scorers in freshman Kieche White (8.1 ppg) and junior Caira Benton (6.0 ppg) have both been playing well lately. White, who ranks second in the MEAC as a 40-percent shooter from three-point range, is scoring 12 points per game in league play and Benton is averaging 15.5 points per game in February.
 
The Eagles defeated Florida A&M, 52-49, last season in Durham. Sophomore Jada Blow scored 10 points in that victory and Afriyie pulled down 12 rebounds. NCCU dropped a 10-point decision, 62-52, to Bethune-Cookman two days earlier. Martin netted nine points and Afriyie totaled eight boards in that defeat.
 
Florida A&M Women's Basketball
 
The Rattlers have lost their last five games, including an 87-70 setback at University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday. Florida A&M (4-19 Overall, 2-8 MEAC) is in 12th place in the league standings.
 
For a second straight season, junior guard Florence Quattara is the Rattlers leading scorer. Quattara ranks just above Martin as the league's sixth highest scorer at 14.3 points per game. She also ranks fifth with 2.4 steals per game and 14th with 2.7 assists per game.
 
FAMU has three other primary scorers in junior center Shalaunda Burney-Robinson (9.5 ppg), senior forward Shakerrya Morrison (7.9 ppg) and senior Dawn King (7.0 ppg).
 
Morrison (2nd, 9.3 rpg) and Burney-Robinson (8th, 7.5 rpg) both rank in the top-10 of the MEAC in rebounds per game. Burney-Robinson (49.7%) is making nearly half of her shot attempts.
 
Senior Ecenur Yurdakul, who is averaging 6.3 points per game, led all players with 15 points in last season's three-point loss to NCCU. Morrison – a preseason Second Team All-MEAC selection – added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in that contest.
 
Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball
 
The Wildcats remain undefeated in league play after a 60-45 home win over Norfolk State University on Monday. Bethune-Cookman (17-4 Overall, 9-0 MEAC) has won nine straight games and will try and get it to double figures when they entertain Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday before hosting the Eagles on Monday.
 
The two-time defending MEAC regular season champions have a stingy defense that is holding teams to just 55.7 points per game (ranks 18th in DI).
 
Junior guard Angel Golden leads the Wildcats with 14.5 points per game (4th in the MEAC). Classmate Chasimmie Brown also averages over 10 points per game for the league's second highest scoring team. Ashanti Hunt, who collected Second Team All-MEAC honors last season, is a third scoring option for the Wildcats as she averages just under 10 points per game. Hunt is third in the league with 3.8 assists per game and she leads the Wildcats with 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
 
BCU dominated the backboards, 44-29, while Golden scored nine points to support the Wildcats offense in last season's 10-point victory over the Eagles.