DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University women's basketball team enters the 2022 MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena as the seventh seed and will open up postseason play with a quarterfinals game against second-seeded Norfolk State University on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The winner of that game will play in the semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m.
 
GAME INFO:

GAME NOTES 25 vs. Norfolk St.
                                                                       
DATE: Wednesday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Va.
WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN: NCCU Sports Network
FOLLOW: Live Stats; @NCCUAthletics
MEAC INFO: Tournament Website; Bracket; Tickets
 
NC CENTRAL BENCH:                                                                                      
 
The Eagles ended their regular season with an 84-74 victory over South Carolina State University on NCCU's Senior Night. NC Central (5-19 Overall, 3-11 MEAC) will be trying to win a quarterfinals game in the MEAC tourney for a second time in the past three seasons.
 
Freshman guard Diamond Thomas was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-MEAC and MEAC All-Rookie Team on Friday. The six-time MEAC Rookie of the Week ranks second in the MEAC with 14.3 points per game, including 2.4 made 3-pointers per game. Thomas has averaged 17.2 points per game against league opposition this season, including an average of 21 points per game in two games against the Spartans.
 
Sophomore forward Tianna Carter posted her fifth double-double of the season in Thursday's win over the Lady Bulldogs, including a season-high 21 points. Carter, who was named to the MEAC All-Defensive Team on Friday, is third in the MEAC with 7.5 rebounds per game while also chipping in 9.4 points per game.
 
Junior Kira Lowery is coming off her first collegiate double-double with season-best totals of 19 points and 12 assists against SCSU. Lowery is second on the team with an average of 10.1 points per game against conference competition. Lowery now ranks second in the MEAC with 3.3 assists per game after dishing out a dozen assists in the regular season finale, which tied NCCU's modern era record. She also ranks second on the team with 1.8 steals per game.
 
Senior forward Ashlyn Lockard (9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG) and sophomore guard Taylor Williams (4.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG) have been two other staples in NCCU's starting lineup the past month of the season. Sophomore guard Paris McBride (5.7 PPG, 2.4 AGP, 2.1 SPG) has been leading NCCU's reserves, but did miss NCCU's last game.
                                                                                                                         
NORFOLK STATE BENCH:
 
The Spartans finished in a three-way tie as regular season co-champions in the MEAC. Norfolk State (15-10 Overall, 11-3 MEAC) needed a win in its regular season finale in order to claim a share of the title and the Spartans were able to knock off preseason-favorite Howard, 62-58, on Thursday to create the tie with the Bison and Morgan State. NSU will be trying to win its MEAC quarterfinals game for a fourth consecutive year.
 
Junior guard Deja Francis (transfer from St. Bonaventure) and senior guard Camille Downs (transfer from UNCW) were both named First Team All-MEAC as they lead Norfolk State each average 13 points per game on the season. Francis (13.5 PPG) and Downs (13.0 PPG) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the league in scoring. Downs was also named the named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year after averaging a league-best 3.5 steals per game, which also ranks fifth nationally. Francis is fifth in the MEAC with 2.9 assists per game.
 
Sophomore forward Mahoganie Williams (transfer who played at Trinity Valley and Louisiana Tech) is a third Spartan postseason award winner. Williams was selected Second Team All-MEAC after averaging 9.3 points per game, a team-best 6.7 rebounds per game and a league-best 2.5 blocks per game (which ranks 15th nationally).
 
Downs and Williams also garnered MEAC All-Defensive Team honors in 2022.
 
Sophomore forward Tatiana Jones (transfer from Gulf Coast State) adds depth to Norfolk State's lineup with averages of 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
 
SERIES:
                                         
Norfolk State swept NCCU in the regular season, winning 80-70 in Durham on Jan. 10 and 71-63 in Norfolk on Feb. 28 to improve to 24-10 all-time against the Eagles. Downs averaged nearly a double-double in those two wins for the victors (25.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG), while also averaging 3.5 steals per game. Francis also scored in double digits in both triumphs, averaging 16.0 points per game.