Women's Basketball Heads To Charleston For Season Opener
November 10, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2011
| Game 1: at College of Charleston | |
| Date | Friday, November 11 |
| Time | 5:00 p.m. |
| Location | Charleston, S.C. (TD Arena) |
| Game Notes | East Carolina Game Notes | College of Charleston Game Notes |
| Internet Coverage | Live Broadcast | Live Stats |
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CHARLESTON, S.C. - East Carolina begins its second season under the watch of head coach Heather Macy Friday, meeting the College of Charleston at TD Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The contest marks the first time since the 2006-07 Conference USA championship campaign that the Pirates have started the year on the road. ECU is coming off its third-straight winning season, having compiled a 16-15 record last year. The Pirates earned wins over league tournament champion and NCAA Tournament participant UCF and WNIT qualifier Rice, as they won nine of their last 13 games.
Bringing a proven high-scoring and pressing style of play with her to ECU, Macy had the Pirates ranked high nationally in a number of statistical categories including scoring assists per game (46th), scoring offense (48th) and steals per game (51st). East Carolina drained 186 three-point field goals - the third-most in the league and just one shy of the single-season school record. Additionally, the Pirates produced the top two single-game scoring efforts of any C-USA squad with 102 points versus Virginia Union and 97 against Massachusetts.
While East Carolina lost over half of its scoring and rebounding from the 2010-11 team, Macy has countered by calling upon a number of talented transfer players and freshmen in advance of the season opener at College of Charleston on Nov. 11. Whitny and Britny Edwards (University of Virginia), Bryelle Smith (Clemson) and JUCO All-America selection Kristine Mial (Frederick Community College) join rookies Tatiana Chapple, Janesha Ebron and Dana Jones to complement a handful of returners in what should prove to be a vintage Macy type of squad. Whitny Edwards and White will redshirt this season while the remaining three transfers will suit up for ECU immediately.
THE SERIES: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
East Carolina and the College of Charleston will meet for the fourth time in Friday's season opener with ECU holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The Cougars posted a 99-71 victory in Rock Hill, S.C. on Feb. 13, 1976 in the teams' first affair, but the Pirates have taken the last two by scores of 74-67 (2/8/79) and 76-35 (1/28/91). East Carolina has never faced the College of Charleston in a true road matchup.
EAST CAROLINA AGAINST THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
East Carolina holds an all-time mark of 64-33 (.660) against current members of the Southern Conference. The Pirates have faced off against Appalachian State (28-10), College of Charleston (2-1), Davidson (1-2), Elon (6-2), Furman (1-2), Georgia Southern (1-2), UNC Greensboro (16-5) and Western Carolina (9-9), but have never played Chattanooga, Samford or Wofford.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE "D"
The Pirates won three-straight games to end the 2010-11 regular season and did it due to some pretty stingy defense. In those contests, ECU gave up an average of 51.3 points per game - well under its final season average of 69.1.
TAKE THE LEAD AND RUN
In 14 of their 15 losses last season, the Pirates trailed at the half. Conversely, they won 14 games when leading at the break and one when the score was tied. ECU recorded its lone victory when trailing at the half against Marshall in February.
PAY ATTENTION DOWN THERE AT THE END
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 75 of the last 95 games.
I'LL TAKE THREE, THANKS
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 and at home against Southern Miss.
WIRE TO WIRE
In four of the Pirates' wins last year, they led the entire game. Virginia Union, Massachusetts, Prairie View and UAB did not manage to grab a lead against ECU while the Blazers did not enjoy an advantage at any point of the two games between the teams.
INTO THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
East Carolina ended up ranked highly in a few statistical categories on the national stage. The Pirates were 46th in assists per game, 48th in scoring offense, 51st in steals per game and 65th in field goal percentage.
WHEN MAKING 30...
East Carolina converted 32 field goals against SMU Feb. 17 of last season, marking the 28th time since the start of the 2006-07 campaign that the Pirates have made 30 or more baskets in a single game.
KEEP RACKING THEM UP
The 39 wins between the last two campaigns are tied for the fourth-most in a two-year span in program history - four behind the 1979-81 seasons.
UP NEXT FOR THE PIRATES:
After opening the season in Charleston, the Pirates begin the home portion of their schedule at Minges Coliseum Sunday, Nov. 13 against St. Andrew's College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
