ECU Entertains Virginia Intermont Thursday
November 16, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2011
| Game 3: Virginia Intermont | |
| Date | Thursday, November 17 |
| Time | 5:30 p.m. |
| Location | Greenville, N.c. (Minges Coliseum) |
| Statistics | East Carolina Statistics  |
| Game Notes | East Carolina Game Notes |
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina looks to build on its first win of the season when it welcomes Virginia Intermont to Minges Coliseum for a Thursday evening contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men's squad which takes on Coker afterward.
ECU rolled past St. Andrew's 109-30 in its home opener, establishing the program record for margin of victory and tying the single-game mark for steals. Additionally, East Carolina has won 34 of its last 43 home appearances.
Junior forward Britny Edwards continued her solid early-season play, producing her first double-double in a Pirate uniform with 22 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 10 rebounds - seven of which were on the offensive glass. Teammate and freshman Tatiana Chapple also excelled in a number of statistical categories, earning the first double-double of her collegiate career at 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Columbus, Ohio native also posted five assists, five steals and no turnovers.
ECU had six total players in double figures offensively as Chareya Smith, Kristine Mial, Celeste Stewart and Shala Hodges put in 17, 16, 11 and 11 respectively. Other standout performances included seven steals by Stewart, a career high, and seven assists from senior Bryelle Smith. Chareya Smith just missed a double-double as she pulled down eight rebounds (five offensive).
A tenacious defensive effort resulted in 33 steals for East Carolina which matched the school record set against NC State Jan. 22, 1973. The 109 points scored tied the third-most in program history and were the most since East Carolina scored the same number against UNC Greensboro on Jan. 29, 1980. The 47 made field goals were the second most, falling just one short of the school record, as were the 93 shots the Pirates attempted.
After a dismal shooting performance in Friday's contest at College of Charleston, ECU rebounded to shoot 51 percent. East Carolina also owned the boards, recording 52 rebounds of which 28 were offensive. The Pirates limited St. Andrew's to 12 field goals made, 28-percent shooting and four assists. ECU also forced 47 turnovers and scored 73 points off those miscues. A majority of East Carolina's points occurred in the paint (76) while the Pirates also out-scored the Knights 43-0 on the fast break.
The Series: Virginia Intermont
The contest marks the first-ever meeting between the Pirates and Cobras.
ECU Against the Appalachian Athletic Conference
East Carolina has played just one game against current members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference, dropping an 81-72 decision to Union College on March 7, 1974 in Greenville. The Pirates have never faced Bluefield College, Bryan, Columbia College, Milligan, Montreat, Point University, Reinhardt, Tennessee Wesleyan or Virginia Intermont.
Double Trouble - Freshman Style
With her double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) against St. Andrew's, freshman forward Tatiana Chapple is the first ECU player to record a double-double in her rookie season since Jean Best scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds versus UCF on Feb. 15, 2009.
Tenacious "D"
The Pirates' defense is getting it done early in the season as East Carolina has held both of its opponents under 60 points. The 30 scored by St. Andrew's are the fewest allowed since Presbyterian netted 28 on Nov. 21, 2008. ECU is also averaging 37.5 turnovers forced and 23.5 steals in its first two outings this year.
Minges Success
Since the beginning of the 2008-09 season, no one has been better than East Carolina at home in Conference USA play. The Pirates have racked up a 20-4 ledger while Houston, SMU and UCF are a game behind at 19-5.
On Their Way to See the Pirates Play
It could be said that one reason for East Carolina's sparkling home record was the fan support given by the Greenville and surrounding communities. The Pirates welcomed 26,213 fans to Minges Coliseum last season, an average of 1,872 per contest. That figure led Conference USA for the third-straight year.
The Starting 10
It seems like the Pirate bench gets deeper with each passing season and is a veritable extension of the starting five. East Carolina's bench has outscored its opponents' reserves in 75 of the last 96 games.
When Making 30...
East Carolina converted 47 field goals against St. Andrew's, marking the 29th time since the start of the 2006-07 campaign that the Pirates have made 30 or more baskets in a single game.
Up Next for East Carolina
ECU plays its second road contest of the year Sunday, traveling to Trask Coliseum for a matchup with former CAA rival UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks recorded an 83-72 win in Greenville last season.
