ECU Hosts IUPUI in First Game of Thanksgiving Tournament
November 27, 2013 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2013
| Game 6: IUPUI at East Carolina | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 29 |
| Time | 5:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. | Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum |
| Live Game Coverage | Gametracker (Live Stats) | Live Video |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  |
| 2013-14 Women's Basketball Statistics | East Carolina | IUPUI |
| ECU Women's Basketball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Fact Book |
The Game
The East Carolina women's basketball team will host the ECU Thanksgiving Tournament beginning Friday, November 29 and concluding on Sunday, December 1. The Pirates play host to IUPUI on Friday, November 29 at 5 p.m. at Williams Arena inside Minges Coliseum. Live stats, video, and audio will be available on ECUPirates.com.
The Series
The Pirates and the Jaguars will meet for just the second time in program history. ECU leads the all-time series 1-0. In the only previous meeting between the two teams, East Carolina held of IUPUI 67-59 on November 26, 1999, in Greenville, N.C.
Last Time Out
East Carolina is coming off of a 93-84 win at Elon last Saturday. In that game, the Pirates used a balanced offense that shot nearly 52-percent in the second half to hold off the Phoenix. ECU out-shot Elon in the second half as they connected on 15-of-29 shots. East Carolina surged in the final 20 minutes as the Pirates tallied 50 points in the frame and led by as many as 19 (70-51). Despite the Phoenix efforts and cutting ECU's lead to seven (88-81) with just 1:04 left in the game, the Pirates finished strong and put the game away 93-84. East Carolina benefitted from a pair of 20-point performances from redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne and senior forward Kristine Mial as Payne led all scorers with 23 points to go along with a season-high six steals, four rebounds, and two assists. Mial tied her career-high with 20 points in the contest while adding a game-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year, and the third of her career. Junior guard Janesha Ebron turned in a career-best 19 points while adding a game-best six assists to tie her career-high. She also posted four steals and three boards. Redshirt junior guard Abria Tricerounded out the Pirates' four double-figure scorers as she finished the game with 18 points, four rebounds, and a steal.
About the Pirates
ECU enters the Thanksgiving Tournament with a 5-0 record on the year after having defeated Virginia Intermont (102-47), George Mason (75-66), William & Mary (69-57), Loyola (68-47), and Elon (93-84). This is the first time since the 2009-10 season that the Pirates have opened the year on a five-game winning streak. As a team, ECU is shooting 41.3-percent with a scoring offense of 81.4, while holding opponents to just 60.2 points per game for a scoring margin of +21.2 which ranks 25th in the NCAA. The Pirates are a defensively strong team that leads the nation in steals per game with 17.4. They also rank 28th in turnover margin (+6.4) as the Pirates have forced their opponents into 26.6 turnovers per game. ECU leads C-USA in offensive rebounds per game (21.6) and the Pirates own a rebounding margin of +10.2 which ranks 34th in the nation and second in the conference. Redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne leads the Pirates in scoring as she averages 18.6 points per game which ranks fifth in C-USA. She has also been solid from three-point range as she is shooting 52.0-percent from beyond the arc to rank fifth in C-USA and 29th in the nation. Redshirt junior guard Abria Trice who ranks sixth in the league with 16.4 points per game. Redshirt junior post Ondrea Shaw leads the squad in rebounding as she averages 7.0 boards per game. She is also the team leader in blocks per game with 2.8 which ties her for second in the conference and ranks her 21st in the nation. Junior guard Janesha Ebronleads the Pirates with 24 assists to average 4.8 per game which places her fourth in the league. She is also fourth in the conference with a 2.0 assists to turnover ratio.
Scouting the Jaguars
IUPUI comes to Minges Coliseum riding a four-game winning streak after having defeated Missouri State (76-65), Valparaiso (84-51), Chicago State (68-47), and Ohio Valley (100-46). The Jaguars are 5-1 on the season with their only loss coming to Purdue on November 13. As a team, IUPUI is shooting almost 50-percent from the field as the Jaguars' 49.3-shooting percentage is ranked 14th in the nation. They are averaging 77.3 points per game, while limiting opponents to just 57.2 for a scoring margin of +20.2. Additionally, the Jaguars average 39.2 rebounds per game, 16.7 assists per game, 7.8 steals per game, and 2.5 blocks per game. Redshirt senior guard DeAirra Goss lead the Jaguars in scoring as she averages 10.7 points per game. She is shooting 40.0-percent from the field and averages 2.8 rebounds per game to go along with 13 assists, nine steals, and two blocks. Redshirt junior forward Shanika Maddox is the team leader in rebounds as she averages 6.3 per game, while adding 8.5 points per game and a team-best 63.9-shooting percentage. Senior guard Dee-Dee Bellamy owns a team-best 14 steals, while senior guard Dawn Luster has dished out a team-leading 24 assists, and freshman center Mikale Rogers leads the Jags with 10 blocks.
On This Date in ECU Women's Basketball History
The East Carolina women's basketball team embarks on the 10th contest played on November 29 in program history when the Pirates host IUPUI on Friday. In the Lady Pirates' 44-year history, ECU has compiled a 5-4 record on November 29. The Pirates first set foot on the hardwood on this date in 1980 and went on to defeat Wagner, 81-73, in Staten Island, N.Y. The Pirates last were victorious on November 29 in 2005, when they held of North Carolina A&T, 74-71, in Greensboro, N.C. ECU's most recent contest on that date was in 2008, when the Pirates fell to North Carolina A&T, 72-53, in Greenville, N.C., at the Lady Pirate Invitational.
Home Sweet Home
Last season, ECU closed out the year with an impressive 14-1 record while playing at Minges Coliseum. After starting the 2013-14 season with a 4-0 record in Greenville, the Pirates have extended their home winning streak to 17 games. East Carolina has not lost a home match in one year as the last time the Pirates were defeated inside Minges Coliseum was on November 17, 2012 when they dropped a 72-62 decision to College of Charleston.
Leading the Nation
The NCAA sent out the national statistical ranking for the first time this season and East Carolina was ranked in the top 50 in eight categories. The Pirates lead the nation in steals per game (17.4) and are tied for first in win-loss percentage (100.0) as they have not lost a game yet. ECU ranks 25th in scoring margin (+21.2) and 28th in turnover margin (6.4). The Pirates come in 34th in scoring offense (81.4), 34th in rebound margin (+10.2), 47th in blocked shots per game (4.8), and 48th in free throw percentage (74.8).
Cleaning Up The Glass
The Pirates have accumulated 233 rebounds to average 46.6 per game which leads Conference USA. In holding their opponents to 36.4 rebounds per game, the Pirates own a rebounding margin of +10.2 which ranks second in C-USA and 34th in the nation. Redshirt junior post Ondrea Shawis the team-leader in boards as she averages 7.0 per game to rank in the top 20 in the conference.
Getting Defensive
A defensively strong team, East Carolina has limited its opponents to 60.2 points per game, while averaging 81.4 points per game for a scoring margin of +21.2. The Pirates' scoring margin (+21.2) and scoring offense (81.4) rank third in C-USA and 25th and 34th in the NCAA, respectively. Additionally, the Pirates have collected 87 steals to average 17.4 per game to lead both the conference and the nation. ECU has also forced their counterparts into 133 turnovers to average 26.6 per game for a turnover margin of +6.4 which is good for fourth in the league and 28th in the NCAA. The Pirates have also put up 24 blocks to average 4.8 per game which is good for fourth in the league and 47th in the nation. Three Pirates in Abria Trice, Jada Payne and Janesha Ebron have each grabbed 13 steals to average 2.6 per game to rank sixth in the league. Redshirt junior post Ondrea Shawhas collected a team-best 14 blocks (2.8 per game) which ties for second in the league and is good for 21st in the nation.
Pouring In The Points
The Pirates have two double-figure scorers in redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne and redshirt junior guard Abria Trice. Payne leads the Pirates with 18.6 points per game, while Trice averages 16.4. Their averages rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in the conference. As a team, ECU owns a scoring offense of 81.4 to rank third in the league and 34th in the nation, while the Pirates limit their opponents to 60.2 points per game for a scoring margin of +21.2 which is also third in the conference and 25th in the NCAA.
Pirates Plunder, Pillage, and Steal
Like their namesake, the Pirates are known for steals. ECU has grabbed 87 steals this season to average 17.4 per game which sets the standard in both Conference USA and the NCAA. The Pirates have forced their opponents into 26.6 turnovers per game and own a turnover margin of +6.4 which ranks fourth in the league and 28th in the nation. A trio of Pirates in Jada Payne, Janesha Ebron, and Abria Trice, are tied for sixth in C-USA as they average 2.6 steals per game. Additionally, senior forward Kristine Mialranks 11th in the conference as she averages 2.3 steals per contest.
Thanks For the Assistance
The Pirates have dished out 76 assists this season to average 15.2 per game which ranks fourth in Conference USA. East Carolina owns an assist to turnover ratio of 0.8 for a fifth-place ranking in the league. Junior guard Janesha Ebronis the team-leader with 24 helpers on the year to average 4.8 per game which ranks her fourth in the conference. She is also fourth in C-USA with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.0.
Block Party
ECU has put up 24 blocks to average 4.8 per game which is good for fourth in Conference USA statistics and 47th in the nation. The Pirates have limited their opponents to 3.6 blocks per game on the year. Junior post Ondrea Shawleads the team with 14 blocks for an average of 2.8 blocks per game which ties her for second in the conference and ranks her 21st in the NCAA.
100-Point Games
ECU has recorded 100 or more points on 22 occasions during the program's 44-year history. Most recently, East Carolina dropped 102 points on Virginia Intermont as the Pirates defeated the Cobras by 55 points (102-47). The first time ECU reached the 100-point mark came on December 5, 1978, when the Pirates trounced Wake Forest, 102-48, in Greenville. The most points ever scored by an ECU women's basketball team occurred on February 13, 2004, when the Pirates poured in 119 points in a quadruple overtime loss to TCU, 125-119.
ECU in C-USA
As a team, East Carolina ranks in the top five in 17 of 21 Conference USA statistical categories this season. The Pirates are first in steals per game (17.4), rebounding offense (46.6), offensive rebounds per game (21.6), and offensive rebounding percentage (49.5). Additionally the Pirates are second in the league free throw percentage (74.8) and rebounding margin (+10.2). ECU ranks third in scoring offense (81.4), scoring margin (+21.2), rebounding defense (36.4), and three-point field goals made per game (6.6). The Pirates are also ranked fourth in blocked shots per game (4.8), assists per game (15.2), and turnover margin (+6.4), while they rank fifth in scoring defense (60.2), field goal percentage (41.3), three-point field goal percentage (32.0), and assist to turnover ratio (0.8).
Pirates in C-USA
Five Pirates have found themselves ranked in the top 20 in Conference USA individual statistics this year. Redshirt junior Ondrea Shaw is tied for second in blocks per game with 2.0. She is also listed ninth in offensive rebounds per game (3.4) and tied for 18th in rebounds per game (7.0). Redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne ranks second in C-USA with 2.6 three-point field goals made per game. She also ranks fifth in three-point field goal percentage (52.0) and scoring (18.6 points per game). Payne is tied for sixth with 2.6 steals per game. Junior guard Janesha Ebron is fourth in both assists per game (4.8) and assist to turnover ratio (2.0), while also tying for sixth with 2.6 steals per game, and 14th with an 84.2-percent free throw percentage. Redshirt junior guard Abria Trice is ranked fourth in free throw shooting with a percentage of 88.5, while ranking sixth in scoring (16.4 points per game), and tying for sixth in steals per game (2.6). Senior forward Kristine Mialis tied for 11th in the conference in steals per game as she averages 2.3.
The "New" Conference USA
Conference USA was one of the many conferences that saw realignments over the summer. July 1, 2013 marked the addition of Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, and UTSA to C-USA. While the conference expanded with the eight new member institutions, it also parted ways with Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF as all four joined the American Athletic Conference. 2013 will mark the last year of ECU's affiliation with Conference USA as the Pirates will join the American Athletic Conference beginning next season.
Notables
• Junior forward Shae Nelson and redshirt senior post Ariana Jackson will be out indefinitely due to injuries
• Redshirt junior guard Kyani Whitehas been suspended indefinitely due to a violation of university policy
Coming Up...
The Pirates conclude the Thanksgiving Tournament Sunday, December 1, when they host Cleveland State at 2:30 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available on ECUPirates.com.
