DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central travels to Baltimore, Md., for two MEAC women's basketball games this week.
The Eagles visit Morgan State in their first MEAC road game on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Hill Field House starting at 6 p.m. Two days later, NCCU plays Coppin State on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Physical Education Complex Arena in a 2 p.m. contest. Saturday's game will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
NCCU (3-11, 0-1 MEAC) is seeking its first conference win after a 68-48 setback to Norfolk State at home last Saturday in the conference opener. The Eagles will have to regroup in Baltimore, which has been a challenging road trip over the years.
NCCU is 6-13 at Morgan State and 9-12 at Coppin State since rejoining the MEAC in the 2011-12 season. Recent history favors the Eagles, however. They defeated Morgan State 63-58 and Coppin State 52-44 in the 2023-24 season.
The Eagles have won three of the last four contests against Morgan State (1-16, 0-1 MEAC) including a 71-53 home win last season. Against Coppin State (3-13, 1-0 MEAC), NCCU is looking to snap a three-game losing skid after winning the previous four contests.
NCCU, guided by Head Coach
Terrence Baxter, will look to utilize its defense and depth against both teams. The Eagles lead the MEAC and rank 18
th nationally in forced turnovers per game (22.71). They also rank 50
th in the nation in bench points per game (26.1) and 52
nd in steals per game (10.8).
Six Eagles average at least one steal per game led by
Morgan Callahan's 1.7 average. Callahan also tops the Eagles in points per game (11.3) and rebounds per game (6.7). Both
Najah Lane and
Tierney Coleman are collecting steals at 1.6 a clip.
That bodes well against Coppin State, which is last in the MEAC in turnovers per game (23.2). Morgan State ranks last in points per game (51.6), scoring defense (75.8) and scoring margin (-24.2) though the Bears are third in fewest turnovers committed per game (18.2).
Ja'la Bannerman paces Morgan State in scoring at 11.7 points per game and Maya Woodson averages a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game. Khila Morris sparks Coppin State with a 12.1 scoring average and Patricia Sosa Lora leads Coppin State in rebounds per game (5.9).
Morris scored the game-winning layup for Coppin State in a 60-59 road win over Delaware State last Saturday.
Both Morgan State and Coppin State are led by two new head coaches. Nadine Domond guides Morgan State and Darrell Mosley directs Coppin State.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
