DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team will conclude a three-game homestand with a rescheduled Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest with Morgan State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. and NCCU's final non-conference game of the season when the Eagles host St. Andrews University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
GAME INFO:
GAME NOTES 16/17 vs. Morgan St. & St. Andrews
vs. Morgan State (
GAME PROGRAM)
DATE: Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
WATCH:
NCCU Sports Network
FOLLOW:
Live Stats;
@NCCUAthletics
vs. St. Andrews (
GAME PROGRAM)
DATE: Monday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
WATCH: NCCU Sports Network
FOLLOW:
Live Stats;
@NCCUAthletics
NC CENTRAL BENCH:
The Eagles, who only had seven active players in their last game, played a close game against the preseason favorites before falling 66-55 to Howard University last Saturday. NCCU (2-13 Overall, 1-5 MEAC) is one game behind Morgan State in the win column of the league standings.
Freshman guard
Diamond Thomas was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week for a third time this season last week after tallying career-highs of 27 points and eight rebounds against Bison. Thomas ranks fourth in the league in scoring out of qualifying individuals with an average of 12.3 points per game. Thomas, who is averaging 17.8 points per game in MEAC play, also ranks second in the conference with both 2.3 made 3-pointers per game and a .330 shooting percentage from 3-point distance.
All four of junior
Kira Lowery's double-digit scoring performances this season have come in league play as she ranks second on the team with 11.0 points per game in six conference starts. Lowery leads NCCU with 2.5 assists per game. Sophomore
Paris McBride, who leads the squad with 2.0 steals per game, ranks just behind Lowery with 2.4 assists per game.
Sophomore
Tianna Carter is averaging 9.0 points and 7.3 points per game on the season, but has missed NCCU's last two games. Senior
Ashlyn Lockard adds depth in the paint for the maroon and gray and has started the most games for NCCU. Lockard is supplying averages of 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
MORGAN STATE BENCH:
The Bears are coming off a 72-60 road win at University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday. Morgan State (8-6 Overall, 2-2 MEAC) is one of the most veteran teams in the league with four players selected Preseason All-MEAC.
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 8.8 points per game and has made a team-best 18 three-pointers on the season. Henson missed six games earlier in the season, but is averaging 8.1 points per game and is coming off a season-high 20-point performance against the Hawks.
Junior guard Adia Brisker was voted Preseason All-MEAC Third Team and she ranks second on the team with 11.3 points per game while leading the Bears with both 2.1 steals and 1.6 assists per game.
ST. ANDREWS BENCH:
The Knights have lost their first 19 games as an NAIA member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). St. Andrews (0-19 Overall) will host Brenau University on Saturday before visiting the Eagles.
Senior guard Dominique Cooke leads SAU with 11.7 points and 1.6 steals per game. Sophomore forward Aijah Palmore follows with 9.8 points per game and a team-best 7.1 rebounds per contest. Freshman guard Aneas Price and junior guard Katerina Patkova join Cooke as the only three players to play in every game for the Knights and they rank third and fourth, respectively, on the team with 8.7 and 6.9 points per game.
SERIES:
Morgan State knocked NCCU out of the 2021 MEAC Basketball Tournament last season in the last meeting. The Bears outlasted the Eagles, 74-64, to increase their series lead to 13-5. Henson paced MSU with 19 points while Redd (11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists) and McCalla (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists) and Jayla Atmore (13 points, 4 steals) all had big performances for the victors. McBride topped NCCU returnees with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists in that contest.
NCCU and St. Andrews will be playing for the first time.
