Women's Basketball Opens Conference Play Against UAB
January 09, 2004 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina women's basketball team begins its third season as a member of Conference USA on Friday night as it hosts UAB in the conference opener inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. It will be the fourth meeting between the two schools, with the Lady Pirates holding a 2-1 series advantage. The two teams met last year with the ECU coming away with a, 72-69 victory.
In ECU's last outing against Murray State, junior guard Jennifer Jackson recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jackson shot 50 percent from the floor (6-of-12), and connected on two three-pointers. Senior center Courtney Willis led all scorers on the night as she poured in 17 points. It was Willis' 13th consecutive game scoring in double figures.
Fellow Lady Pirate and Oklahoma native Viola Cooper, connected on a career-high five three-pointers on her way to recording a career-high 15 points. ECU had nine players to score against Murray State.
UAB (6-7) had their four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Austin Peay as they fell to the Lady Govs, 70-67. With 1.7 seconds left in the contest, senior forward Natasha Thomas' three-point attempt bounced off the side of the rim as time expired. Thomas had 23 points on the night, 17 in the second half, with nine of those coming in the final two minutes of play.
The Lady Blazers have two players averaging double figures on the season, and are led by Thomas' 15.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Thomas has recorded 12 double figure scoring games, collected four double-doubles, and led the team in rebounding in eight games this season. Freshman guard Crystal McFadden is the other Lady Blazer in double figures, with 11.8 points a game.
ECU's next game will be at home on Sunday, Jan. 11 when they host USF at 2 p.m. Pirate fans attending the USF game can get a free child's ticket with the purchase of a regularly priced adult ticket. Sunday's game also is senior citizen day, as senior citizens are admitted for free.
