Game Notes
DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles have found much success winning at home since the Division I transition in the fall of 2007 with a record of 18-8 in McDouglad-McLendon Gym. As the Lady Eagles return to the nest for a three-game homestead, the maroon and grey look to snap its seven-game losing streak on Saturday, Dec. 18 against the Liberty University Lady Flames at 2 p.m. on the home hardwood.
The Lady Eagles and Lady Flames met for the first time in the program’s history during the 2009-10 campaign. NCCU fell 64-44 on Feb. 4 in Lynchburg, Va.
During the 20-point loss, NCCU senior Shanise Blanks was a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc. The Lady Eagles forced 21 turnovers and had a game-high 11 steals. The NCCU defense held Liberty leading scorer and returner Devon Brown to 10 points.
NCCU hosts Liberty after a tough road loss to Campbell on Dec. 14 in Buies Creek, N.C. The Lady Eagles are hungry for another Big South win after defeating Presbyterian 43-38 in McDougald-McLendon Gym on Nov. 20.
The maroon and grey is led by senior paint powerhouse Jori Nwachukwu. She leads the team in scoring (14.8), blocks (10), and rebounding (8.8). The Upper Marlboro, Md,. native is the only Lady Eagle to provide a double-digit performance each contest, including two 19-point outings. Nwachukwu produced her first 19-point feat at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown in a 78-61 loss to Long Beach State. Her second 19-point achievement occurred in McDougald-McLendon Gym against Winthrop.
Sophomore Chasidy Williams follows Nwachukwu in offensive contribution as the second leading scorer with an average 11.4 points per game, while leading in steals with 18.
Blanks serves as NCCU’s third leading scorer (8.1) and leader in assists (13). The guard spends the most time on the hardwood, playing 28.7 per game. During her 35 minutes of play against Campbell, Blanks amassed 14 points, 12 of which she earned from behind the arc. South Plainfield, N.J., native Blaire Houston has provided two-consecutive double-digit performances, including a game-high 12 points against Gardner-Webb. Houston is the fourth leading scorer, averaging 5.1 points per game.
As a unit, the Lady Eagles are shooting 31.8 percent from the field, 21 percent from long range and 62.2 percent from the charity stripe.
The Lady Flames hit the Durham, N.C. based hardwood following a three-point loss to James Madison on Dec. 5. In the 54-51 defeat, Brown and Avery Warley amassed 14 points apiece. Jelena Antic grabbed eight boards, along with Warley’s seven rebounds.
Brown and Antic are the Lady Flames offensive duo. In her season’s first 17 minutes of play, Brown amassed a season-high 14 points. Over the course of eight games, Antic has accumulated 82 points for an average of 10.3 points, and leads the team in steals (16) and assists (12). Warley dominates the rebounding game at 7.8 boards per contest.
As a team, the Lady Flames are shooting 37.5 percent from the field, 25.6 percent from long range, and 61.5 from the charity stripe, while averaging 56.4 points per game.
NCCU will close out the first half of the season hosting No. 7 West Virginia (Dec. 21) and UNC Asheville (Dec. 29).
For more information on Lady Eagle basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
