DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central begins a four-game road stretch against national power South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday, Dec. 7. The SEC Network will televise the women's basketball contest, which starts at noon.
This is third meeting between the Eagles and Gamecocks but the first with Eagles' Head Coach
Terrence Baxter at the helm. USC won the previous contests at home in 2013 and 2014.
South Carolina is the Eagles' second nationally-ranked opponent this season. NCCU took on No. 11 North Carolina in the season opener in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Nov. 3.
The Eagles are 1-7 overall but half of their losses have been by 10 points or less, including a three-point loss to Power Four program Wake Forest. On Tuesday, NCCU held a nine-point halftime lead over North Carolina A&T before falling 73-67 at home.
Najah Lane led the Eagles in scoring for the second straight game, tallying 13 points with three assists and three steals against the Aggies. The NCCU guard has been a plus since joining the Eagles this season, leading the MEAC in assists per game (4.1) and free throw percentage (87.1).
Lane paces a productive backcourt which includes
Tierney Coleman and
Aysia Hinton. Coleman is the MEAC leader in three-point field goal percentage (.500) and Hinton has knocked down 19 three-pointers which lead the conference. NCCU forward
Morgan Callahan is the team's scoring (9.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg) leader.
The Gamecocks (8-1 overall) will be the highest-ranked team the Eagles have faced since they last played in 2014. That year, USC was the top-ranked team in one poll and ranked second in another.
South Carolina, under Head Coach Dawn Staley, is seeking its fourth NCAA title after a national runner-up finish last season. The Gamecocks are coming off a 79-77 victory over No. 22 Louisville in the ACC/SEC Challenge in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday.
Joyce Edwards leads four double-figure scorers with an 18.8 average. Madina Okot averages 11.3 rebounds and Raven Johnson is the Gamecocks' assist leader, averaging 6.8 per game.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
