DURHAM, N.C. — After a couple of games were postponed to start the New Year, the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team has added one last non-conference game in preparation of league play with the Eagles now hosting North Carolina Wesleyan College on Monday, Jan. 11 at noon.
GAME INFO:
DATE: Monday, Jan. 11, 12 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
TICKETS: NO fans allowed
WATCH:
NCCU Sports Network ($4.99)
FOLLOW:
LIVE STATS;
@NCCUAthletics
DIGITAL GAME NOTES:
NC Central; NC Wesleyan
DIGITAL GAME PROGRAM:
Rosters with Simone Edmundson Cover
NC CENTRAL SNIPPETS:
The Eagles had their first two MEAC games at Norfolk State University get postponed until Jan. 23-24, so they added one last non-conference game against NC Wesleyan. NCCU (1-3) will be playing its first game in 23 days when the Eagles tipoff against the Battling Bishops.
NCCU last dropped its home opener, 71-56, to College of Charleston on Dec. 19. The Eagles were held to a season-low 56 points after committing a season-high 25 turnovers.
Senior guard
Kieche White returned to NCCU's lineup after missing two games due to injury and scored a game-high 19 points against the Cougars. White paces the Eagles with 20.0 points, 3.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game. She also ranks second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per game.
Sophomore forward
Anissa Rivera has been recognized by the MEAC with a weekly award in all three weeks the Eagles have played this season, including one MEAC Player of the Week honor and two Defensive Player of the Week awards. Rivera notched her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds against CofC. She tops NCCU with 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Rivera's 3.5 blocks per game ranks fourth nationally.
White and Rivera are both Preseason All-MEAC selections.
Senior guard
Necole Hope is a third Eagle averaging over 10 points per game with 10.8 points per game.
The maroon and gray lead the MEAC with 6.8 made 3-pointers per game. Rivera, White and Hope are all making over one trey per contest.
Freshman guard
Paris McBride, who is netting 7.8 points per game, ranks seventh in the MEAC with 2.25 steals per game.
NC WESLEYAN SNIPPETS:
The Battling Bishops have been out of action for even longer than the Eagles. NC Wesleyan will be playing its first competition in exactly one month. The Battling Bishops are an NCAA Division III member of the USA South Conference, but all three of their games in December were against DI opposition.
NC Wesleyan (2-0) is undefeated on the season, including an impressive 52-37 road win at UNCG. The Battling Bishops played two other DI foes as exhibition games and they lost both times to a pair of teams NCCU has also played this season, including a 108-71 loss at High Point University and a 109-69 loss at College of Charleston.
NCWC has a veteran lineup with four senior starters.
Including exhibitions, senior forward Myrayna Watkins leads the Battling Bishops with 11.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Senior guard Kayla Johnson is supplying 10 points per game in four games, including nearly a trio of treys per contest. Sophomore forward Kayrisma Harrison joins Johnson in having scored 40 total points in four games, and she is currently the DIII national leader with 4.0 blocks per game after swatting away a season-high seven shots in last month's win over the UNCG Spartans. Senior guard Cydney Nichols chips in 7.5 points per game, while setting up the offense with 4.3 assists per game.
SERIES:
First meeting.
