Lady Pirates Face Charlotte in Regular Season Finale
February 26, 2004 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina women's basketball team will head west to take on instate rival Charlotte in the regular season finale for both teams on Friday night at Halton Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
The Lady Pirates (14-12, 5-8) dropped a pair of road games last weekend as they fell in double-overtime to Cincinnati (78-72) and Louisville (79-75). Both teams come into Friday nights contest jockeying for position in the middle of Conference USA's standings. ECU looks to snap an eight game loosing streak, while the 49ers (14-12, 7- 6) have dropped five of its last six games.
In ECU's last outing against Louisville, the Lady Pirates fell in overtime to the Cardinals. Senior center Courtney Willis led four Pirates in double figures recording a game-high 25 points and extended her consecutive double-figure scoring streak to 26 games. She also grabbed 17 rebounds on her way to recording her 14th double-double of the season. Guard Viola Cooper connected on five three-pointers and tied a career- high with 15 points, while Shanita Sutton netted 11 and Jennifer Jackson added 10 points.
Charlotte also dropped a pair of road games last weekend falling to Louisville (86- 84) on Friday night and Cincinnati (80-56) on Sunday. The 49ers have three players averaging double-figures and are led by reserve Pam Brown. The sophomore forward leads the team with 11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds a contest. Guards Sakellie Daniels (11.4 ppg) and Peaches Harris (10.8) are the other 49ers averaging double-figures.
This will be the 26th meeting between the two schools and the second of the season. Charlotte holds an 18-7 overall advantage, but fell to the Lady Pirates on Jan. 25, 80-55. In their last meeting, Willis recorded 26 points and nine boards, Jackson added 24 points and nine rebounds, and Sutton grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. The victory over the 49ers was ECU's last of the season.
ECU will return to action on Thursday March 4, when they travel to Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort-Worth, Texas for the Conference USA Tournament. The Lady Pirates will have to wait to see who their first round opponent will be as they could face Charlotte, Cincinnati, Marquette, or USF.
