East Carolina Travels to Bethune Cookman for Sunday Matinee
December 27, 2013 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2013
| Game 12: East Carolina at Bethune Cookman | |
| Date | Sunday, Dec. 29 |
| Time | 2:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Daytona Beach, Fla. |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  |
| 2013-14 Women's Basketball Statistics | East Carolina | Bethune Cookman |
| ECU Women's Basketball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Fact Book |
The Game
The East Carolina women's basketball team concludes 2013 on Sunday, December 29 at Bethune Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Pirates and the Wildcats will tip-off at 2 p.m.
The Series
The Pirates and the Wildcats will meet for the third time in program history. East Carolina leads the all-time series 2-0 as Bethune Cookman looks to win its first game over the Pirates on Sunday. The last time the two teams met was in 2009 when the Pirates defeated the Wildcats, 95-57, on November 27, at the Lady Pirate Classic. Prior to that, the only other meeting came on December 7, 2002 at the U.S. Cellular Classic, when East Carolina was victorious, 80-55.
Last Time Out
East Carolina is coming off of a 76-47 win over Ohio on December 20 at Minges Coliseum. The Pirates used a strong offensive attack and stout defensive play in the second half to roll past Ohio. The Pirates' defense put up 10 blocks to rank fourth in the team single-game record book, while Ondrea Shaw posted six blocks of her own to tie for second in the single-game annals. In addition to tallying a career-best six blocks, Shaw added a season-high eight points and six rebounds. While Shaw led the defensive attack, Jada Payne paced the offense with a game-high 24 points to mark the 10th game in which she recorded double-figures. Payne also contributed six boards, a career-high five assists, and a game-best four steals. Kristine Mial notched 12 points in the contest, while J'Kyra Brown registered 11. Brown added a career-high three steals to go along with one rebound and one block, while Mial grabbed six boards. The ECU defense was solid as it held Ohio to just 27.6-percent shooting in the game. The Pirates recorded 32 defensive rebounds in the contest as Colleen Marshall dished out a season-high five boards, four of which came on defense. Tatiana Chapple added to the Pirates' 10 blocks as she posted two which set a new career-best for the Columbus, Ohio, native. She also recorded three rebounds, all defensive, and an assist to help the Pirates to their 10th victory of the season.
About the Pirates
East Carolina is 10-1 on the year with its only loss coming to Grand Canyon, 86-76, at the ULM Warhawk Classic. The Pirates opened the season with eight straight victories to mark the best start in program history since the 1972-73 season when ECU kicked off the year with an 18-0 record. The Pirates are averaging 79.2 points per game, while limiting opponents to 59.5 for a scoring margin of +19.7 which ranks 22nd in the nation and leads Conference USA. East Carolina's 43.8 field goal percentage is good for second in the conference as is the Pirates' free throw percentage of 74.8. From three-point range, ECU is shooting 33.3-percent to also rank second in the league. The Pirates lead the conference with a +9.0 rebounding margin as they average 41.8 rebounds per game to their counterparts' 32.8. ECU leads the conference in steals per game (12.8) and the Pirates also rank fifth in the NCAA in the same category. Redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne leads the Pirates with 22.0 points per game to go along with a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game. She also owns a three-point field goal percentage of 52.5 to lead the conference and rank fifth in the nation. Redshirt junior guard Abria Trice is second on the squad in scoring as she averages 15.8 points per game while adding 20 steals. Junior guard Janesha Ebron is the Pirates' leader in assists with 57 to average 5.2 per game which ranks her fifth in the league and 58th in the nation. Ebron also adds 19 steals and 4.5 points per game. Redshirt junior post Ondrea Shaw is ECU's leader in blocks as the Los Angeles, Calif., native has put up 28 on the year to average 2.5 per game to rank second in C-USA and 26th in the nation. Shaw also contributes 6.0 rebounds per game, which is good for second on the team, 3.1 points per game, nine steals and six assists.
Scouting the Wildcats
Bethune Cookman is 3-9 on the season and 0-2 in MEAC action. The Wildcats have lost their last two contests to Nicholls State (73-56) and Murray State (81-70). Their only wins on the year were over St. Thomas (69-64), Edward Waters (63-53), and Jacksonville (57-49). As a team, the Wildcats average 55.9 points per game while surrendering 68.1. Bethune Cookman is shooting 34.4-percent from the field, 26.0-percent from three-point range and 66.2-percent from the free throw line. The Wildcats hold the edge on blocks as they average 4.7 per game while their opponents are averaging 2.7. Chastity Rene Taylor is the Wildcats' only double-figure scorer as she averages 16.1 points per game. She also adds 3.1 rebounds per game, 14 assists, 14 steals and two blocks. Kailyn Williams leads the Wildcats in rebounding as she averages 5.8 boards per game. Williams is also the team leader in blocks as she has put up 35 on the year to average 2.9 which ranks 10th in the nation. Additionally, she averages 4.7 points per game and owns eight steals and a pair of assists.
On This Date in ECU Women's Basketball History
The East Carolina women's basketball team embarks on the 14th contest played on December 29 in program history when the Pirates travel to Daytona Beach, Fla., on Sunday to take on Bethune Cookman. In the Lady Pirates' 44-year history, ECU has compiled a 5-8 record on December 29. The Pirates first set foot on the hardwood on this date in 1978 and dropped a 74-71 decision to Montclair State. Most recently, East Carolina defeated Elon, 71-64, in 2012 in Greenville, N.C.
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 7-0 record in Greenville, the Pirates have extended their home winning streak to 20 games. East Carolina has not lost a home match in more than a 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.
In the Nation
In the NCAA's weekly national statistical rankings East Carolina is ranked in the top 50 in nine categories. The Pirates are fifth in the nation in steals per game as they average 12.8. Additionally, ECU is tied for 17th in win-loss percentage (90.9). The Pirates also rank 22nd in scoring margin (+19.7), 32nd in blocks per game (4.8), 33rd in free throw percentage (74.8), 34th in turnover margin (+4.27), 35th in rebounding margin (+9.0), 37th in scoring offense (79.2), and 49th in scoring defense (59.5).
Getting Defensive
A defensively strong team, East Carolina has limited its opponents to 59.5 points per game, while averaging 79.2 points per game for a scoring margin of +19.7. The Pirates' scoring margin (+19.7) leads the league while their scoring offense (79.2) ranks third in C-USA. The marks are also ranked 22nd and 37th in the NCAA, respectively. Additionally, the Pirates have collected 141 steals to average 12.8 per game to lead the conference and rank fifth in the nation. ECU has also forced their counterparts into 257 turnovers to average 23.4 per game for a turnover margin of +4.3 which is good for third in the league. The Pirates have also put up 53 blocks to average 4.8 per game which ties for second in the league and ranks 32nd in the nation.
Cleaning Up The Glass
The Pirates have accumulated 460 rebounds to average 41.8 per game to rank sixth in Conference USA. In holding their opponents to 32.8 rebounds per game, the Pirates own a rebounding margin of +9.0 which leads C-USA and is good for 35th in the nation. Redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne is the Pirates' leader in rebounding as she averages 6.7 boards per game. Her average ranks her in the top 15 in the conference.
Pouring In The Points
The Pirates have a pair of double-figure scorers in redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne and redshirt junior guard Abria Trice. Payne leads the Pirates with 22.0 points per game, while Trice averages 15.8. Their averages rank third and 11th, respectively, in the conference. As a team, ECU owns a scoring offense of 79.2 to rank third in the league and 37th in the nation, while the Pirates limit their opponents to 59.5 points per game for a scoring margin of +19.7 which leads the conference and ranks 22nd in the NCAA.
Pirates Plunder, Pillage, and Steal
Like their namesake, the Pirates are known for steals. ECU has grabbed 141 steals this season to average 12.8 per game which leads Conference USA and ranks fifth in the NCAA. The Pirates have forced their opponents into 23.4 turnovers per game and own a turnover margin of +4.3 which ranks third in the league. Juniors Abria Trice and Jada Payne lead the Pirates with 20 steals to average 1.82 per game. Junior guard Janesha Ebron is right behind the duo with 19 steals on the year.
Thanks For the Assistance
The Pirates have dished out 163 assists this season to average 14.8 per game which ranks third in Conference USA. Junior guard Janesha Ebron is the team-leader with 57 helpers on the year to average 5.2 per game which ranks her fifth in the conference. She also leads C-USA with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.3.
Block Party
ECU has put up 53 blocks to average 4.8 per game which ties for second in Conference USA statistics. The Pirates have limited their opponents to 2.5 blocks per game on the year. Junior post Ondrea Shaw leads the team with 28 blocks for an average of 2.5 blocks per game which puts her in second place in the conference and ranks her 26th 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.
C-USA Freshman of the Week
On Monday, December 16, freshman guard J'Kyra Brown earned her first-ever Conference USA Freshman of the Week honor for her performance at the ULM Warhawk Classic. Brown helped the Pirates to a 1-1 record and an appearance in the Warhawk Classic championship game after averaging 10.5 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 1.0 assists per game, 0.5 steals per game, and 0.5 blocks per game. She finished the weekend shooting 53.8-percent from the field, 57.1-percent from beyond the arc, and was 3-for-3 from the free throw line. Brown poured in 18 points in the Pirates' 85-42 victory over Alcorn State last Friday to secure ECU's place in the championship contest. She earned the honors along with Takia Brooks of Florida Atlantic and Tamara Jones of Southern Miss who took home Co-Player of the Week accolades. Brown is the first Pirate to collect the award this season.
ECU in C-USA
As a team, East Carolina ranks in the top five in 16 of 21 Conference USA statistical categories this season. The Pirates are first in scoring margin (+19.7), rebounding defense (32.8), rebounding margin (+9.0), steals per game (12.8), offensive rebounds per game (17.4), and offensive rebound percentage (.461). ECU ranks second in free throw percentage (.748), field goal percentage (.438), three-point field goal percentage (.333), and blocked shots per game (4.8). The Pirates rank third in scoring offense (79.2), assists per game (14.8), turnover margin (+4.3), and three-point field goals made per game (6.4). East Carolina ranks fourth in scoring defense (59.5) and fifth in field goal percent defense (.364).
Pirates in C-USA
Four Pirates have found themselves ranked in the top 20 in Conference USA individual statistics this year. Redshirt sophomore forward Jada Payne leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.525) and three-point made field goals per game (2.8). She also ranks third in scoring (22.0 points per game), sixth in free throw percentage (.855), eighth in field goal percentage (.522), 11th in offensive rebounding (2.8), and 14th in rebounding (6.7 rebounds per game). Junior guard Janesha Ebron sets the standard in C-USA with a 2.3 assists to turnover ratio. She also ranks fifth in assists per game (5.2). Redshirt junior post Ondrea Shaw ranks second in blocked shots per game (2.5) and ties for 11th in offensive rebounds per game (2.8). Redshirt junior guard Abria Trice is ranked in three categories. She is ranked third in free throw percentage (.879), 10th in field goal percentage (.509), and 11th in scoring (15.8 points per game).
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
• Senior post Ariana Jackson will be out indefinitely due to an injury.
Coming Up...
East Carolina will open 2014 at College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, January 2. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Live stats will be available on CofCSports.com.
