Pirates Wrap Up Road Schedule At Marshall
February 25, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2012
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| East Carolina at Marshall Feb. 26, 2012 | 1:00 p.m. ET Huntington, W.Va. (Cam Henderson Center) TV: None |
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - East Carolina closes the book on its road schedule Sunday, traveling to Huntington, W.Va. for a matchup with Marshall at 1 p.m. The Pirates look to complete the season sweep of the Thundering Herd, having captured a 61-57 decision at Minges Coliseum just two weeks ago.
ECU won its third game in its last four outings Thursday, turning in a dominant 65-50 victory over UCF which avenged a 59-53 loss in Orlando in early January. Junior Shala Hodges scorched the visitors to the tune of 22 points, including a career-best six three-point field goals, and added a 4-for-4 performance at the foul line, three steals, a block and an assist. Senior Chareya Smith increased her double-digit scoring streak to five games by netting 10 points and was the only other Pirate in double figures.
Also filling up the stat sheet was junior Celeste Stewart, who scored six points to go along with a personal best tying six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Although sophomore Kristine Mial failed to reach double figures offensively for the first time in four outings, she contributed in other ways by posting five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Junior Britny Edwards recorded two of ECU's five blocks and is now just four away from tying Jean Best for 10th on the program's single-season top-10 list.
ECU fired at a 42-percent clip from the field and limited UCF to a 33-percent showing, but the story continues to be East Carolina's recent prowess from long distance as the Pirates knocked down 10 of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc. The team has nailed 30 three-point field goals in its last three games and racked up six in Thursday's first half. ECU also continued its solid showing at the foul line in league play, knocking down 11 of 13 tries for a mark of 85 percent.
The Pirates forced the Knights into 22 turnovers, scoring 27 points off the miscues, and distributed 18 assists on their 22 made baskets. East Carolina also ratcheted up the defensive pressure, grabbing 13 steals - the most for the squad since it plucked 17 against Lafayette on Dec. 29.
Inside the Matchup
- Marshall looks to get back in the win column after dropping a 63-55 contest at Southern Miss on Thursday.
- The Herd have been solid at home this campaign, racking up an 8-4 ledger, but have lost three of their last five in Huntington. Meanwhile, East Carolina is 0-10 on the road this year including an 0-7 mark in league action.
- With 18 on its roster this year, Marshall has 11 players averaging double-digit minutes in conference play and are led in scoring in league affairs by Shay Weaver (7.6 p/g).
- In the teams' first meeting, the Pirates out-rebounded the Herd 38-36, but Marshall currently is a +4.0 in rebounding margin.
THE SERIES: MARSHALL
East Carolina and Marshall meet for the 17th time in a series that began in 1980 . ECU owns a 10-6 lead overall and has won seven of the last eight matchups as well as five consecutive over the Herd.
KEEPING IT CLOSE OR BUILDING A LEAD
The victory over Houston ended a nine-game stretch where ECU allowed its opponents to build a double-digit lead. In the last three contests, the Pirates have trailed by no more than five points and raced out to a 25-point cushion against UCF - their fourth largest in a game this year.
ON THEIR WAY TO SEE THE PIRATES PLAY
The crowd of 3,258 that witnessed the win over Marshall represents the fifth-largest in program history. A throng of 4,500 people, the most to ever watch a women's basketball game at East Carolina showed up on a snowy evening in 1981 as ECU fell to nationally-ranked USC.
FILLING THE HOOP
Since the start of the 2006-07 season, the Pirates have shot 60 percent or better in a half 19 times - including a 73-percent showing in the first half last Sunday at Tulsa.
CASHING IN ON THE FREEBIES
After suffering through a dismal stretch at the foul line to begin the season, the Pirates have dramatically improved at the stripe. During conference play, ECU is firing at 67 percent. At Southern Miss, East Carolina knocked down 14 of its 15 attempts from the line for season-best 93 percent - the highest for the Pirates since a 16-for-17 performance at Tulane on Jan. 13 of last season. ECU was clutch in the last two minutes of the wins over Marshall and Houston, hitting 12 of 15 free throws to seal the victories.
MIAL DIALED IN FROM RANGE
Sophomore Kristine Mial is getting it done from beyond the arc recently. In the last nine games, she has hit 18 three-point field goals, including seven in the last three home wins. Currently, Mial owns a 14-game streak of at least one three-pointer made.
EDWARDS CLOSING IN ON BLOCKS TOP 10
Junior Britny Edwards notched two blocks against UCF to move within four of catching Jean Best for 10th on the single-season list.
SUCCESS AT MINGES
With the victory over UCF Thursday, East Carolina assured itself of a ninth-straight winning campaign at home. ECU has taken 15 of its last 21 overall and 10 of the last 15 in conference play at Minges Coliseum. Going even further back, the Pirates have captured 41 of the last 55 contests in Greenville.
CONFERENCE USA: THE 11TH SEASON
East Carolina is in its 11th 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). The Pirates notched their first league tournament title with 79-70 triumph over Rice in the 2007 championship game at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla.
THREE ME
With 10 three-point field goals drained against UCF Thursday, East Carolina has made at least two triples in 69-straight games.
IF IT WAS OVER TODAY
If the regular season ended today, ECU would serve as the No. 11 seed in the C-USA Tournament and prepare for a first-round matchup with sixth-seeded UCF. The winner of that contest would face No. 3 UAB in the quarterfinals.
UP NEXT FOR EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina ends the regular season Thursday, March 1, welcoming Southern Miss to Minges Coliseum. The Pirates look to avenge a 67-57 loss in Hattiesburg earlier this year.
