DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central will wrap up the road portion of its regular-season women's basketball schedule with two important MEAC games this week.

The Eagles travel to Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday at 6 p.m. before visiting Delaware State on Saturday at 2 p.m. Wins in both games would strengthen NCCU in the league standings, where the Eagles (4-7 MEAC, 8-17) are currently fifth among eight teams.

NCCU defeated UMES 69-62 in their first matchup on Feb. 2 to hand the third-place Hawks (8-3 MEAC, 15-13) their first MEAC loss of the season. It was also the first conference win for the Eagles, who opened league play at 0-4.

The triumph sparked the Eagles to five wins in their last eight games but they have a tall task ahead of them Thursday. NCCU has not won at UMES since 2007 during its transition to Division I - a span of 13 games. The last four losses at UMES have been by an average margin of 16.8 points.

The Eagles will again lean on the inside tandem of Aniya Finger and Morgan Callahan against UMES. Finger scored a career-high 30 points and added 12 rebounds and six steals and Callahan added 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals in the first meeting at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Following Thursday's game, the Eagles will attempt to extend their four-game winning streak against Delaware State (2-9 MEAC, 5-21) on Saturday. The Eagles have captured nine of the last 10 games including a 58-44 home win on Feb. 9. Finger recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double and Natalie Jasper added 13 points.

Jasper has emerged as a reliable scorer for the Eagles. The NCCU guard, who averages 6.4 points, has scored in double figures four of the last five games. She averaged 17 points on 8 of 16 shooting for 50 percent and connected on a perfect 16 of 16 free throw attempts. In last Saturday's loss to Howard, Jasper scored a career-high 18 points on 4 of 8 shot attempts, converted 10 of 10 free throws and added three steals.

The Eagles will look to subdue both teams with their pressure defense. They rank first in the MEAC and 13^th nationally in forcing turnovers at 22.52 per game. UMES committed a season-high 34 turnovers and Delaware State totaled 20 turnovers in earlier meetings with the Eagles this season.

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