DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central will host Johnson C. Smith in its women's basketball home opener on Wednesday at McDougald-McLendon Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

The MEAC Network will air the non-conference matchup, which counts as a regular-season game for the Eagles and an exhibition contest for the Golden Bulls.

The Eagles hold a slight 30-29 edge in the all-time series including four straight victories. All but one of the previous meetings took place when NCCU competed at the Division II level in the CIAA where JCSU remains a conference member. The teams last met in 2022 when the Eagles earned a 69-56 home win as a Division I program.

NCCU is seeking to rebound from Monday's 85-39 road loss to Virginia Tech in its season opener. Victoria Morris paced the Eagles with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals, tying career highs in points and steals. Dianna Blake, Shrouq Amer and Aysia Hinton each had four points and five rebounds.

JCSU, picked to finish eighth in the CIAA, is led by preseason all-conference picks Salote Franklin and La'Niya Sims. The Golden Bulls will be making their first appearance on the court this season.

The contest will mark the first home opener for new NCCU Head Coach Olivia Gaines and the return of JCSU Head Coach Vanessa Taylor, who led the Eagles from 2012 to 2017 before returning to the Golden Bulls for her second stint as head coach.

JCSU will be the first of two CIAA opponents the Eagles will face this season. NCCU will also host Fayetteville State on Nov. 9.