DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central winds down the women's basketball regular season with four of its last five games away from home starting with two consecutive MEAC tilts this week.
The Eagles visit South Carolina State on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 5:30 p.m., and Howard on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2:30 p.m. The South Carolina State contest will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
NCCU (3-6 MEAC, 7-16) is aiming to extend its seven-game winning streak against South Carolina State. The last time NCCU lost to South Carolina State was Jan. 15, 2022, in Orangeburg, S.C. The Bulldogs (2-7 MEAC, 5-19 overall) are on a six-game losing skid entering Wednesday's home game against the Eagles, who have won 9 of the last 10 games in the series.
The Eagles will face the Bulldogs twice in their last five contests. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 31 but was postponed to Wednesday due to wintry weather.
NCCU is seeking to stop a four-game losing skid to Howard when the teams meet up in Washington, D.C. The Eagles last defeated the Bison on Feb. 17, 2024, in a 70-64 overtime road win.
Saturday's game features a matchup between three of the top forwards in the MEAC. Zennia Thomas of the Bison leads the conference in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg) and is second in blocks (1.2 bpg).
Morgan Callahan, NCCU's career Division I scoring leader, ranks sixth in scoring (12.4 ppg), second in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and fifth in steals (2.0 spg). Her frontcourt mate
Aniya Finger ranks eighth in scoring (12.2 ppg) and is tied for eighth in rebounding (5.7 rpg) in the MEAC.
In the first meeting last month, the score was tied in the final two minutes before the Bison pulled away for a 69-61 win at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Howard (9-1 MEAC, 19-7) currently holds a one-game lead in the conference. The last time the Eagles took on the league leader, they defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 69-62 at home two weeks ago. It was the first conference loss for UMES.
The Eagles are seeking a similar result against Howard and a win over South Carolina State to spring up the MEAC standings.
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