DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team host a pair of critical Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC) games against the two programs that enter the weekend surrounding the Eagles in the league standings. NCCU will first host Delaware State University (Saturday, 2 p.m.) on "Pink Day" before entertaining University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Monday, 5:30 p.m.) inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
GAME INFO:

GAME NOTES 20/21 at DSU & MDES
 
vs. Delaware State (GAME PROGRAM)
DATE: Saturday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena  
WATCH: NCCU Sports Network
FOLLOW: LIVE STATS; @NCCUAthletics
 
vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (GAME PROGRAM)
DATE: Monday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena  
WATCH: NCCU Sports Network
FOLLOW: LIVE STATS; @NCCUAthletics
 
NC CENTRAL BENCH:
 
The Eagles suffered a pair of league losses in Baltimore last week, dropping games to Morgan State (L, 57-62) and Coppin State (L, 61-84). NCCU (3-16 Overall, 1-8 MEAC) is in seventh position in the conference standings, one game ahead of DSU and two games behind both Eastern Shore and South Carolina State (tied for fifth place).
 
Freshman guard Diamond Thomas continues her reign as the MEAC Rookie of the Week for a third consecutive week after averaging 17 points per game in the Charm City. Thomas ranks second in the MEAC with 13.7 points per game, which includes scoring in double digits in each of her last 10 games for an average of 17.8 points per game in league play. Thomas also ranks second in the MEAC with her average of 2.5 made 3-pointers per game.
 
Two other Eagles are scoring an average of double digits against conference competition, including junior Kira Lowery (10.8 PPG) and sophomore Tianna Carter (10.1 PPG). Carter is third in the MEAC with 7.3 rebounds per game and is coming off her third double-double of the season.
                                                                                                                         
DELAWARE STATE BENCH:
 
The Hornets are still seeking their first win of the season and are coming off a 67-42 loss at Morgan State, which is their sixth consecutive double-digit loss in a row. Delaware State (0-18 Overall, 0-9) would move into a tie for seventh place in the league standings with a win over NCCU on Saturday.
 
Senior guard Janasia Law has missed 11 of DSU's first 18 games, including the last three, but is averaging a team-best 11 points per game when she is in the lineup. Law, who is a Preseason All-MEAC Third Team selection after ranking in the top-6 of the league in assists per game each of the last two years, is averaging 3.6 assists per game this season.
 
Junior guard Alexis Moragne is Delaware State's other double-digit scorer with an average of 10.1 points per game. Moragne, who leads the team in made 3-pointers, is scoring 12.8 points per game in MEAC play.
 
Freshman center Unique Miller joins Moragne as the only two Hornets to play in all 18 games this season. Miller is supplying 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
 
Freshman Sianny Sanchez-Oliver recently returned to Delaware State's lineup is totaling 8.6 points per game.
 
Senior Zoe Holmes had an impressive double-double with season-high totals of 16 points and 15 rebounds against NCCU in January, but she has not played since that contest.
 
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE BENCH:
 
The Hawks only played one game last weekend, losing 66-52 at Norfolk State on Saturday. Eastern Shore (7-14 Overall, 3-6 MEAC) has collected all three of its league wins in its last seven games and will play at South Carolina State on Saturday in a contest for sole possession of fifth place in the league standings before visiting NCCU on Monday.
 
Senior Amanda Carney tops a balanced scoring team with 7.9 points per game. She also ranks fifth in the league with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game.
 
The Shore's top nine scorers have all played in at least 18 games for the Hawks and they all average within about three points of each other for the season. However, freshman center Ariana Seawell is averaging team-best totals of 10.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in league play.
 
Seawell had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks against NCCU in January.
 
A pair of seniors were selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team in forward Bairesha Gill-Miles and guard Brooklyn Bailey. Gill-Miles leads the Hawks with 5.1 rebounds per game while chipping in 6.0 points per game. Bailey is second on the squad with 7.4 points per game while pacing Eastern Shore with 1.0 steals per contest.
 
SERIES:
 
NCCU's lone league win came against Delaware State when the Eagles topped the Hornets 75-54 in Dover on Jan. 22. Carter recorded one of her three double-doubles in that contest with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Lowery led the Eagles with 16 points. NCCU head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom is 5-3 against DSU. The all-time series is tied 8-8.
 
Eastern Shore shot 54.8-percent from the field and outrebounded NCCU by a 47-29 margin to secure an 81-59 victory in Princess Anne, Maryland, on Jan. 24. Thomas made five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 21 points for the Eagles. The Hawks hold a 16-4 all-time series advantage.