ECU Looks To Snap Skid Against Rice
January 15, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET • Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011
Location: Minges Coliseum (8,000) • Greenville, N.C.
Series History: Rice leads, 4-3
Last Time Against Rice: L, 77-74 at Tudor Fieldhouse (1/17/10)
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ECU Women's Basketball Gameday Central
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina women's basketball team returns home Sunday, hosting Rice at Minges Coliseum and looking to break a four-game skid. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Pirates have dropped their first three Conference USA contests but played two on the road. ECU trailed by five points or less late in the second half of each game. In Thursday's affair at Tulane, the Pirates led by six at halftime, but were outscored 48-32 in the second half as the defending C-USA champion Green Wave had to rally then hold on for the win. East Carolina has won the only two meetings between the schools in Greenville.
ABOUT US...
The Pirates are 6-10 overall entering the contest as well as 0-3 in C-USA action. Kim Gay posted her second double-double of the season at Tulane, netting 22 points to go along with a career-high matching 12 rebounds. Jean Best also scored 16 points, setting her season-best total for the second time. ECU led Tulane 29-23 at the half Thursday, marking the first time since Dec. 29 vs. Prairie View A&M that the Pirates held the lead after the first 20 minutes. However, it was the first time this season that they lost when holding the halftime edge.A bright spot was free throw shooting, as ECU hit 16 of their 17 attempts for a season high 94-percent showing. East Carolina dropped to second in the league in scoring offense after putting up 61 against Tulane, but is less than a point behind Houston's average.
ABOUT THEM...
Rice posted its best non-conference record under Greg Williams with an 8-6 mark and have carried over its strong play into the league season by winning two of their first three games. The Owls held Marshall to 39 points Thursday, winning by 13 at home. Brianna Hypolite is Rice's top scorer at 12.9 points per game while Jessica Kuster, who has won the league's rookie-of-the-week award four-straight times, averages 12.2. Kuster is also pacing the team on the boards with 9.7 per contest. The Owls average 63.4 points while giving up only 60.9 as well as hold a slight advantage on the glass 41.9-41.5. Rice also takes great care of the basketball, turning it over at just a 16.6 clip.
THE LAST MEETING (Jan. 17, 2010)...
The East Carolina women's basketball team lost for the first time in six contests, falling 77-74 to Rice at Tudor Fieldhouse. Ashley Clarke led the East Carolina offense with 17 while Kelly Smith added 11. Clarke also pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. The Lady Pirates shot well despite the setback, firing at 52 percent while Rice converted 39.4 percent of its attempts. ECU also held the edge on the boards, 37-29 while converting 83.3 percent from the free throw line.
THe SERIES: RICE...
Today's contest marks the eighth between East Carolina and Rice. The Owls hold a slim 4-3 lead in the all-time series between the schools, but Rice has won four of the last five meetings. The Pirates' last win occurred at Minges Coliseum in a 73-59 decision Feb. 29, 2009. ECU is 2-0 against the Owls at Minges Coliseum.
CONFERENCE USA: THE 10TH SEASON
East Carolina is in its 10th year as a basketball member of C-USA. Starting in 2001, the Pirates became eligible to compete for the league title after contributing 17 years as a constituent of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Four years ago, ECU finished third in the regular season standings, its highest ranking since joining the conference. The Pirates also notched their first league tournament title with 79-70 triumph over Rice in the 2007 championship game at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla.
SUCCESS CLOSER TO HOME...
Since Conference USA split into East and West divisions before the 2005-06 campaign, ECU has fared much better against its eastern neighbors. In five seasons, the Pirates have recorded a 42-28 (.600) mark against the eastern members while producing a 16-31 (.341) ledger vs. the western side.
FREE THROWS DO INDEED WIN BALLGAMES...
In six of the last eight contests, ECU has hit over 70 percent of its free throw attempts each game. The Pirates put up a season-best 94-percent performance at Tulane, knocking down 16 of 17 from the charity stripe.
ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE...
The Pirates have taken on some of the nation's best this season. According to realtimerpi.com, ECU's slate is ranked as the 29th-toughest in the country. Among the teams the Pirates have faced are Maryland (13), UCLA (14), Charlotte (60) and UNC Wilmington (72). East Carolina also suffered close losses to Hampton (110) and American (116).
SIGNED AND SEALED...
The Pirates have signed two top 65 position recruits in Courtney Melvin and Ja'Nesha Ebron as well as the No. 102 ranked forward from Columbus, Ohio, Tatiana Chapple. Melvin was ranked the No. 31 post player in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz while Ebron was tabbed No. 61 among guards by the same website. Both signees have North Carolina state championship game experience, as Melvin has led East Bladen High School to the last two title games (1A and 2A) and Ebron helped South Central to a 3A championship appearance. Current assistant coach Ann Hancock holds the scoring record at East Bladen with 2,276 but Melvin started the season just 547 points away from tying Hancock.
SLOW STARTERS...
In seven of its last nine contests, East Carolina has scored more points in the second half than the first. Overall, the second period has been more productive as the Pirates have netted 641 as compared to 547 in the first stanza. In terms of shooting, the Pirates have also fared much better in the second half of games, producing a higher percentage than in the first period in nine of 16 contests - including five of the last seven - starting against UCLA in Hawai'i.
TAKE THE LEAD AND RUN...
In all nine of their losses, the Pirates have trailed at the half. Conversely, they have won five games when leading at the break and one when the score was tied.
ALL IT TAKES IS 30...
East Carolina converted 31 field goals against Florida A&M, marking the 26th time since the start of the 2006-07 campaign that the Pirates have accomplished the feat.
YOU'LL GET TO PLAY...
It seems like the Pirate bench gets deeper with each passing season and is an extension of the starting five. There is some truth to that statement, as East Carolina's bench has outscored its opponents' benches in 64 of the last 809 games and 13 of 16 this year.
SHARING IS CARING...
The Pirates recorded 28 assists on 36 made field goals against Massachusetts. It was just seven shy of the school record and the most since ECU tallied the same number against Houston-Baptist last season. Additionally, the Pirates turned the ball over just nine times for a stellar assist/turnover ratio of 3.1. The nine miscues were the fewest since Nov. 25, 2005 when East Carolina also recorded nine in a 71-68 overtime victory over Ohio University.
THREE ME...
In hitting 12 three-point field goals against Virginia Union, the Pirates established a new program single-game record. However, just six days later, ECU did one better with 13 vs. Massachusetts then did it again against Florida A&M in Iowa. With one triple at Tulane, senior Allison Spivey remained second on the program career chart and is now seven away from sole possession of first-place.
GETTING IT DONE AWAY FROM MINGES SO FAR...
With wins over Western Carolina, VCU and Hawai'i, ECU is 3-3 away from home. However, the Pirates have dropped their first two league games on the road - a long trip to UTEP and a tough matchup against C-USA defending champion Tulane.
THE GOOD KIND OF OFFENSIVE...
ECU owns the top two offensive outputs among C-USA teams this season with 102 points against Virginia Union and 97 vs. Massachusetts. The Pirates also boast one of the two highest single-game assist totals - 28 against the Minutewomen.
THE PATH TO 600...
East Carolina is just seven wins away from recording its 600th victory in program history.
AMONG THE NATIONAL ELITE...
In the latest release of the national rankings, ECU finds itself among the top 70 in a few categories. The Pirates are 30th in steals per game, 32nd in scoring offense and 64th in turnover margin. Individually, Ashley Clarke is 26th in steals per game.
LOADING UP ON FREEBIES...
ECU has committed 406 personal fouls this season, leading to a staggering 521 free throw attempts for the opposition. Pirate foes are averaging 33 tries per game. In the conference opener at UTEP, the Miners went to the line 54 times and made 40 shots. Those marks were Miner school records while tying the C-USA single-game mark. In the first two league contests, UTEP and Memphis were awarded 97 free throw attempts.
UP NEXT FOR THE PIRATES...
ECU will take Thursday off before returning to action Sunday at Southern Miss. Tipoff at Reed Green Coliseum is scheduled for 3 p.m.
