Pirates Continue Homestand Against Monmouth
November 29, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2011
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| East Carolina vs. Monmouth Nov. 30, 2011 | 7 p.m. ET Greenville, N.C. (Minges Coliseum) TV: None |
 Watch |  Gametracker |  Game Notes |  Tickets |  Gameday Central |
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - Having won four of its last five, East Carolina continues a four-game homestand Wednesday by welcoming Monmouth to Minges Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For this contest, the team is holding its annual can food drive to benefit the Pitt County Homeless Shelter. Fans that bring one canned food item will receive free admission to the game. Non-perishable food items such as canned vegetables, tuna, soups, pasta and rice will be accepted amd collection bins will be set up at the ticket window outside the arena.
The Pirates earned victories over Delaware State and Elon last weekend in the 2011 ECU Thanksgiving Tournament, extending their home winning streak to 11 games. Senior forward Chareya Smith captured MVP accolades after averaging a near double-double at 16.0 points and 9.5 rebounds. She posted 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the win over the Phoenix while season leading scorer junior Shala Hodges also garnered All-Tournament honors with a pair of double-digit scoring efforts.
The Hawks enter the contest with some momentum, winning two games over Patriot League members Lehigh and Lafayette, and bring a 2-3 record to Greenville.
With a victory Wednesday, ECU will tie the longest home winning streak in program history. The Pirates last won 12-straight contests at Minges Coliseum during the 2009-10 campaign, beginning with the first game of the season and ending with a close five-point loss to eventual C-USA champion Tulane.
THE SERIES: MONMOUTH
Today's meeting marks the first between the Pirates and Hawks.
ECU AGAINST THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
East Carolina holds an all-time mark of 8-3 (.727) against the current members of the Northeast Conference. The Pirates have faced Fairleigh Dickinson (4-1), Long Island (1-1), St. Francis Pa. (1-1) and Wagner (2-0) but haver never played Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart or St. Francis (N.Y.).
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
With a victory against Monmouth Wednesday, ECU will tie the longest home winning streak in program history at 12. The Pirates last won 12-straight contests at Minges Coliseum during the 2009-10 campaign, beginning with the first game of the season and ending with a close five-point loss to eventual C-USA champion Tulane.
NATIONALLY RANKED
With the first release of the national statisitics rankings, East Carolina finds itself pretty high on the list in a few categories. The Pirates are second in steals per game, seventh in scoring defense and 10th in turnover margin. Additionally, senior Bryelle Smith sits 43rd in assist to turnover ratio.
TENACIOUS "D"
ECU has held each of its six opponents under 65 points to begin the season for the first time since the 1973-74 campaign. The Pirates are also averaging a Conference USA-best 46.3 points allowed per game as well as 34.5 turnovers forced and 21.3 steals a contest. The steals and points allowed currently put East Carolina first and 12th in the nation, respectively.
SHALA'S SCORING SURGE
After averaging just 4.5 points per game last season, junior Shala Hodges is poised to have a breakout year offensively. She is putting in a team-best 13.7 points per contest so far and netted a career-high 28 points against Virginia Intermont. Hodges also leads the team at the foul line, converting 24 of her 32 attempts.
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.
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 with Houston, UCF and SMU close 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 as if 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 78 of the last 99 games.
UP NEXT FOR EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina closes its four-game homestand next Wednesday, Dec. 7, with a contest against VCU. It marks the final home game until the Pirates play UAB on Jan. 8. The Pirates captured a 77-72 victory at the Verizone Wireless Arena in Richmond last season.
