DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team will begin the New Year with a revised scheduled start to its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) slate, now entertaining Norfolk State University inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
GAME INFO:
GAME NOTES 10 vs. Norfolk State
DATE: Monday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena
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NC CENTRAL BENCH:
After starting the season with eight straight losses, the Eagles got into the win column with a record-setting 101-34 victory in their home opener on Monday, Dec. 21 against Johnson & Wales University. NCCU (1-8 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) finally returns to the hardwood 21 days later in an attempt to stay undefeated at home and start league play with a triumph. The Eagles were picked to finish fourth out of eight teams in the MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish poll.
Senior
Necole Hope, a Preseason All-MEAC selection, leads the maroon and gray with 12.4 points per game. She is tied for second in the MEAC in scoring after scoring in double digits in each of NCCU's last six games. Hope is currently the league's third-best free throw shooter at 77.5-percent precision.
A trio of Eagles are averaging eight points per game, including freshman
Diamond Thomas (8.9), redshirt sophomore
Tianna Carter (8.5) and senior
Ashlyn Lockard (8.0). Thomas is NCCU's top 3-pointer shooter, swishing an average of at least one trey per contest. Carter, who is coming off a modern era record 21 rebounds against the Wildcats, is second in the MEAC with 7.5 rebounds per game. Lockard follows with 5.9 rebounds per game, which ranks 12th in the conference.
Sophomore
Paris McBride, who is netting 5.4 points per game, leads NCCU with averages of 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
NORFOLK STATE BENCH:
The Spartans are suiting for the first time in 22 days – one day longer than NCCU – after dropping a narrow 55-50 road game at William & Mary University on Dec. 19. Norfolk State (4-7 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) was picked one spot ahead of the Eagles in the MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish poll with the prognosticators slotting the Spartans third.
Senior guard Camille Downs ranks just behind Hope in scoring, sitting fourth in the MEAC with 12.2 points per game. She also leads NSU in total steals (25) for an average of 2.3 steals per game. Downs, who is Norfolk State's top 3-point shooter, also ranks third on the team with 5.5 rebounds per contest.
A couple of transfers are adding scoring depth for the Spartans, with sophomore forward Tatiana Jones (Gulf Coast State) and junior guard Deja Francis (St. Bonaventure) both averaging nine points per game. Jones, who hasn't played since before Thanksgiving, leads NSU with 6.4 rebounds per game in five games.
Another transfer in Mahoganie Williams has played in all 11 games and is 10th in the MEAC with 6.2 rebounds per game. Williams also leads the league by a wide margin with 2.5 blocks per game, which ranks 14th nationally.
SERIES:
The two teams met an unusual four times last season due scheduling changes caused by the pandemic. NCCU and Norfolk State split those four games, with the Spartans winning the first game both times and the Eagles responding with a triumph a day later both in Norfolk and Durham. NSU holds a 22-10 all-time series lead.
