DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team is next scheduled to visit the Charm City for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road games. The Eagles will start the road trip by playing Morgan State University for a second straight Saturday before battling Coppin State University on Valentine's Day. Both contests are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
GAME INFO:
GAME NOTES 18/19 vs. Morgan St. & Coppin St.
at Morgan State
DATE: Saturday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
WATCH:
Morgan State All-Access
FOLLOW:
Live Stats;
@NCCUAthletics
at Coppin Statte
DATE: Monday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Physical Education Complex
WATCH:
Coppin State University Live
FOLLOW:
Live Stats;
@NCCUAthletics
NC CENTRAL BENCH:
The Eagles are coming off their second 67-point victory of the season, defeating St. Andrews University 96-29 on Monday. NCCU (3-14 Overall, 1-6 MEAC) is in seventh place out of eight teams in the conference standings and will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak in league play.
Freshman guard
Diamond Thomas was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week for a second straight week and fourth total time after averaging 19.5 points per game in two home contests last week. Thomas ranks fourth in the league in scoring out of qualifying individuals with an average of 13.3 points per game. Thomas, who is averaging 18.0 points per game in MEAC play as she has scored in double digits in eight straight games, also ranks second in the conference with both 2.3 made 3-pointers per game.
Sophomore forward
Tianna Carter garnered her second MEAC Defensive Player of the Week award last week after notching her second double-double of the season and filling up the box score with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and five blocks in Monday's win over the Knights. Carter is supplying 9.1 points per game while ranking amongst the league leaders with 7.3 rebounds per game (4th) and 0.9 blocks per game (5th).
Junior guard
Kira Lowery has chipped in five consecutive double-digit scoring performances to rank second on the team with 11.7 points per game in league play.
NC Central made a modern era record 30 steals against SAU. The Eagles are one of three MEAC teams averaging over 10 steals per game and NCCU has six players ranked in the top-16 players in the conference in steals per game.
MORGAN STATE BENCH:
The Bears have won three straight games – all on the road – and are coming off a 73-49 win at South Carolina State University on Monday. Morgan State (10-6 Overall, 4-2 MEAC) is one of the most veteran teams in the league with four players selected Preseason All-MEAC. The Bears are currently in fourth place out of eight teams in the league standings.
Senior forward Dahnye Redd is the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year and she leads the Bears with 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Ashia McCalla and junior guard Ja'Niah Henson joined Redd on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team. McCalla is bucketing 9.4 points per game and has made a team-best 21 three-pointers on the season. Henson missed six games earlier in the season, but is averaging 9.2 points per game.
Junior guard Adia Brisker was voted Preseason All-MEAC Third Team and she ranks second on the team with 10.8 points per game while also leading the Bears with 2.1 steals per game.
COPPIN STATE BENCH:
Coppin State also enters the weekend riding a three-game win streak like MSU. The CSU Eagles are coming off an 84-55 road win at South Carolina State on Saturday. CSU will host the Bulldogs this Saturday to complete a home-and-home series with SCSU before entertaining NCCU on Monday. Coppin State (11-9 Overall, 5-2 MEAC) is sitting in third place out of eight teams in the MEAC standings, a half-game ahead of Morgan State.
In her first season at CSU, senior guard Jaia Alexander has become the MEAC's top scorer with an average of 16.6 points per game and top rebounder with an average of 7.8 boards per game. Alexander, who previously played at Clemson University and Butler University, also ranks second in the league with a .791 free-throw shooting percentage.
Junior guard Aliyah Lawson and junior center Jalynda Salley are both Preseason All-MEAC selections. Lawson, an All-MEAC Second Team selection last season, is pouring in 12.2 points per game and leads the league in made 3-pointers with an average of 2.6 made treys per contest. Salley, an All-MEAC Third Team honoree last year, is netting 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Sophomore guard Mossi Staples gives Coppin State a third double-digit scorer with her average of 10.1 points per game. Staples leads the CSU Eagles with 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
SERIES:
Last week, Morgan State defeated NCCU 79-63 in Durham for their fourth straight win in the series and improve its all-time advantage to 14-5. MSU shot 51.8-percent in that contest and Brisker made five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high totals of 21 points and seven rebounds. Thomas (19 points) and Lowery (16 points) both scored in double figures for the Eagles.
Coppin State ended a four-game losing streak to NCCU with a 66-43 triumph in Durham on Jan. 19. CSU holds a 9-6 all-time series lead after out-rebounding NCCU 59-40 in that win and holding the home team to just 26.2-percent shooting from the floor. Four CSU scorers reached double digits, including a team-high 14 points by Lawson. Thomas was the only maroon and gray player to reach that plateau in that contest, leading NCCU with 11 points.
