Women's Basketball Drops Game to Wolfpack
December 03, 2002 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Despite breaking numerous career highs tonight, the East Carolina University women's basketball team (1-4) dropped a non-conference game to the Wolfpack of N.C. State (2-3) by a score of 80-56. The game, which was played at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum in front of a crowd of 471, was the second straight loss for the Lady Pirates.
Courtney Willis posted her second double-double of the season with 11 points and a career high 13 rebounds. She also had a carer high four assists on the evening. Alisha Bishop, playing the point for the first time this season, also had a career high four assists on the night and tied her career high in points with 13. Jennifer Jackson had 12 points for the Pirates and Tali Robich and Bishop each put up 11. It was the fourth game this season that three or more players scored in double figures.
"I think she (Alisha Bishop) did a pretty good job of trying to run our plays and run our team," said ECU Coach Sharon Baldwin. "We kind of mixed some things up a little bit. We have been going through a couple of things as a team and we are trying to figure out who it is that wants to play and do the things we want to do. I thought she did a great job running the team."
N.C. State scored the first two baskets of the game and would never relinquish the lead throughout the game. The Lady Pirates kept the game close, with the largest State lead coming twice late in the half by 10 points. East Carolina had foul trouble early in the game when both Jackson and Robich had three fouls midway through the period.
"We picked up some cheap fouls," said Baldwin. "One reason we were in the zone was so we wouldn't foul and then we ended up reaching and fouling a couple of times and that kind of put us behind the eight ball."
Down by eight at the half, the Pirates came out in the second and cut the deficit to just five points on free throw by Shanita Sutton. State increased its lead to 10 before ECU cut it back down to five in a three-point shot by Robich. State scored the next four to go up by nine and would go on to outscore the Pirates 2-to-1 in the last part of the half to win 80-56.
The Pirates shot 40.4 percent from the floor and 73.3 percent from the free throw line, while North Carolina State shot 45.3 percent from the floor and 60.0 percent from the free throw line. The Wolfpack outrebounded the Pirates by 15 (45-30) and forced 25 turnovers on which they scored 15 points. ECU forced 20 turnovers, scoring 11 points.
"We were trying to be more patient on offense," said Baldwin, " and I think we were. "I think we got some good looks and we missed a lot of good looks."
East Carolina will host the U.S. Cellular Classic this weekend, December 7-8, which will include, Alabama, Bethune-Cookman, and Liberty.
"Three good teams are coming in here and hopefully we can get some people out here to support us on Saturday when we start off against Bethune-Cookman," said Baldwin.
East Carolina will play Bethune-Cookman in the 3:00 p.m. game on Saturday, December 7, while Alabama and Liberty will tip-off in the 1:00 p.m. game. Both outings will be played at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
