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LADY EAGLE HOOPS HITS THE HARDWOOD IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL

NCCU battles Howard in Saturday afternoon contest for first series meeting


Written by Ariel V. Germain, Sports Information Assistant

DURHAM, N.C. – On Saturday, Feb. 5, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University have the opportunity to earn an opening-series win against the Bison of Howard University
in our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. in Burr Gymnasium.

The Lady Eagles and the Bison (8-14) meet for the first time in school history. NCCU travels to Howard following a 64-53 loss to Bethune-Cookman in McDougald-McLendon
Gymnasium in Durham, N.C.

NCCU seniors Shanise Blanks and Jori Nwachukwu netted in double-figures in the loss. Blanks came off the bench sinking a season-high 17 points, 15 of which she scored from behind
the arc. Nwachukwu hit 11 points and seized 11 boards for her ninth double-double outing this season. Junior Blaire Houston and sophomore Chasidy Williams delivered seven points
apiece for the Lady Eagles, while sophomore J’Mia Pollock blocked three Lady Wildcat shots.

NCCU hit 68 percent from the free-throw line, with gratitude to Blanks, the maroon and grey netted 43 percent from behind the arc and scored 28 percent from the field.

Coming off a 51-46 victory over Delaware State, Howard hosts Saturday’s contest. Saadia Doyle led the offense with 18 points on the night, while Tamoria Holmes and Cheyenne
Curly-Payne scored 11 points apiece. Portia Deterville pulled down eight rebounds.

The Bison scored 31 percent from the field, hit 10 percent from the three-point arc and 72 percent from the charity stripe.

On the season, four student-athletes pace the Lady Eagles offensive effort: Nwachukwu (14.0 points per game), Williams (12.1 ppg), Blanks (6.9 ppg) and Houston (6.6 ppg).
Nwachukwu leads in the rebounding and blocking categories with 9.2 boards per game and 31 total blocked shots. Blanks maintains the efficiency of the playbook with 35 assists this
season, while she and Williams steal 32 opponent’s possessions.

With 21 games played thus far, the Lady Eagles hold a record of 2-19 overall and 0-9 against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference programs. NCCU scores 49.8 points per game, nets 32
percent from the field, sinks 20 percent from the three-point arc and hits 63 percent from the free-throw line.

The Bison offense is led by Doyle with 17.4 points per game, while Curly-Payne is the second-leading scorer at 9.2 points per contest and Tamoria Holmes achieves 8.9 points per game.
Doyle also commands the rebounding campaign with 8.7 boards per game. Holmes maintains the possessions, distributing 53 assists and attaining 46 steals.

The Bison average 50.4 points per contest, and hit 34 percent from the field, 25 percent from the behind the three-point arc and 67 percent from the charity stripe.

Lady Eagles fans can catch all of the action live online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com, where Chris Hooks will bring live play-by-play action from Burr Gymnasium on the Howard
University campus. Eagle Gameday, the pregame show, will air 15 minutes prior to tip-off.

For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

Ariel Germain
Sports Information Graduate Assistant