East Carolina University
3-0
Alcorn State
1-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn State | 16 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 58 |
| East Carolina | 26 | 14 | 27 | 20 | 87 |
Laramie's 24 Leads Pirates Over Alcorn State, 87-58
November 17, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score 
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Five Pirates reached double-figure scoring, led by Marina Laramie's game-high 24 points as the East Carolina women's basketball team won its home opener, 87-58, over Alcorn State on Tuesday night at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.
Laramie finished the night shooting10-for-15 overall, 3-for-4 from three-point range and chipped in three assists, while her 10 field goals made matched her career-high. Jada Payne produced her second double-double of the season and 13th of her career with 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Fanni Csutoras scored 15 points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals off the bench, while Alex Frazier and Gabrielle Holston contributed 11 points each. Holston shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor.
East Carolina (3-0) took a few possessions to get into the flow of its offense, but turned six Alcorn State (1-1) turnovers into eight points to help create a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Laramie scored 10 points in the period as the Pirates held a 26-16 advantage through the first 10 minutes of action.
The second quarter was a low-scoring affair on both ends of the floor, but ECU began the frame on a 12-2 scoring run, capped by a Csutoras three with 2:17 remaining to put East Carolina ahead, 38-20. ECU was able to edge Alcorn, 14-9, in the period to take a 40-25 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
The Pirates shot 18-for-38 (.474) from the field, but just 2-for-13 (.154) beyond the three-point line, while the Braves shot 11-for-26 (.423) on the floor and missed all three of their shots from distance in the first half.
Laramie continued to have the hot hand as the second half began, scoring seven points in the first five minutes to keep East Carolina in front, 51-35, at the media timeout with 4:48 to play. ECU saved its largest scoring outburst for the middle portion of the third quarter by closing out the frame on 16-3 run to take a 67-38 lead into the final period.
The Pirates pushed their advantage past the 30-point threshold one more time when Frazier scored on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but the Braves began to chip away and shrink their deficit to just 22 at 75-53 with 3:42 left on the game clock.
Csutoras would make six free throws as part of an 8-0 run inside the subsequent three minutes to give East Carolina its largest lead of the night - 32 points - with just 47 ticks remaining, before the Pirates settled for the 29-point victory.
ECU shot 32-for-70 (.457) overall, 6-for-26 (.231) from three and 17-for-24 (.708) at the free throw line on the night, while Alcorn State went 22-for-55 (.400) from the field, missed all eight three-point attempts and combined to go 14-for-25 (.560) at the foul stripe.
The performance marked the Pirates' second-straight game with 30 or more field goals made and the team's 23 topped their last performance by just one. They outscored the Braves, 40-30, in the paint, 35-10 off turnovers, 19-7 on second chances and 37-14 off the bench.
Norianna Hayes led Alcorn State with 19 points and six rebounds.
East Carolina will remain at home to host Presbyterian on Friday, Nov. 20. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
