East Carolina University
5-0
Bethune Cookman
0-5
East Carolina Drops Bethune-Cookman, Improves to 5-0
November 23, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score 
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Highlights and Interviews
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Redshirt junior Jada Payne recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to guide the East Carolina women's basketball team to a 71-42 victory over Bethune-Cookman and complete a sweep of its three-game home stand on Sunday afternoon in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Pirates have won their first five games in each of their last two seasons and in three of their last six. The last time ECU won five in a row to open back-to-back campaigns was 1972-73.
Payne shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range on the day, while adding two assists and a block in 27 minutes. The double-double was her third in five games this season and the 10th of her career. Senior point guard Janesha Ebron chipped in a team-high seven assists and five steals, senior forward Shae Nelson had 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc and junior guard Jasmine Phillips compiled 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and five steals on the afternoon.
"For being our third game in five days, I was pleased with the team having their legs under them," head coach Heather Macy said. "It was a great team win in Minges Coliseum, and I appreciate the community coming out on a Sunday at 2 p.m."
East Carolina (5-0) opened up the game with a 16-2 run, capped by a pair of Phillips free throws with 11:29 remaining in the first half. Just under three minutes later, senior post player Ondrea Shaw blocked back-to-back shots on the same defensive possession to tie and then pass Jean Best (2008-12) for third place on ECU's all-time list with 116.
Junior DeVaughn Gray connected on back-to-back 3-pointers with under six minutes remaining in the half to extend the Pirate lead to 22-5, before Payne drained one of her own to push the advantage to 20. Bethune-Cookman (0-5) hit its second jumper of the game on its next possession with 3:07 left, breaking a span of 13:20 in which the East Carolina defense held the Wildcats without a field goal.
ECU went on to take a 34-12 lead into the locker rooms at halftime after shooting 13-for-30 (.433) from the floor, 5-for-12 (.417) from 3-point range and 3-for-5 (.600) from the free throw line. Bethune-Cookman shot just 3-for-31 (.097) overall, 1-for-7 (.143) from beyond the arc and 5-for-7 (.714) from the foul line.
While both sides exchanged baskets for the first seven-plus minutes of the second half, East Carolina maintained a 44-25 lead with 12:24 remaining in the game. From that point, the Pirates went on a 12-0 run over the next 97 seconds of play, capped by a Nelson 3-pointer, to create its largest lead of the game at 31 points.
The Wildcats chipped away and cut its deficit to 20 with the score 58-38 and 5:58 left on the clock, but ECU closed out the game with a 13-4 run to wrap up its second straight 29-point victory in the last three days.
The Pirates shot 27-for-67 (.403) overall and 10-for-26 (.385) from three on the afternoon, while holding Bethune-Cookman to just 11-for-60 (.183) shooting. The Wildcats were led by Kailyn Williams' 12 rebounds and six steals.
"We feel great," Payne said. "We are constantly working hard to prepare ourselves. I think it's really important that we take care of our bodies over these next few days, so we are going to spend this time doing that."
ECU outscored the opposition, 32-4, in the paint, 29-14 off turnovers and 45-23 off the bench.
East Carolina will head to the 2014 Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas to face 23rd-ranked Syracuse in a Thanksgiving Day matinee on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. The Pirates will face either the winner or loser of Wisconsin and No. 2 South Carolina the following afternoon.
