East Carolina Hosts Houston on American Digital Network
January 13, 2016 | Women's Basketball
| Game 17: East Carolina vs. Houston | |
| Date | Thursday, Jan. 14 |
| Time | 7 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (Minges Coliseum) |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  | Houston | American Conference |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Coverage |  American Digital Network |  Radio: (WZMB 91.3 FM) | @ECUScoreboard |
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After a seven-day break, the East Carolina women's basketball will host Houston in American Athletic Conference action on Thursday, Jan. 14. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum and the game will be broadcast by the American Digital Network.
PROMOTIONS
The first 100 fans to enter will receive a FREE ECU t-shirt.
LAST TIME OUT
East Carolina (7-9, 1-3 AAC) snapped an eight-game slide in a 71-56 road win at UCF last Thursday evening. Jada Payne led four Pirates in double-figure scoring with 27 points and 14 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. Marina Laramie and I'Tiana Taylor each scored 12 points, as DeVaughn Gray added 10 points and eight rebounds. Alexandra Frazier handed out a game-high five assists. The Pirates finished the night shooting 24-for-74 (.324) overall, 6-for-23 (.261) from three-point range and 17-for-23 (.739) at the free throw line, while the Knights shot 22-for-76 (.289) from the field, 2-for-16 (.125) from beyond the arc and 10-for-13 (.769) at the stripe. ECU outscored UCF, 24-4, off turnovers and 16-6 on second chance baskets while committing just 12 turnovers.
ALL-TIME VERSUS HOUSTON
The Pirates have won four straight and five of the last six matchups against the Cougars, but trail in the all-time series, 9-5. ECU won both meetings last season, erupting for an 87-46 win in Houston for its first victory as a member of the American Conference on Jan. 10, before topping the Cougars, 79-56, at home just over three weeks later. Jasmine Phillips posted a double-double in each contest.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Houston (4-12, 0-5 AAC) has lost six-straight, including each of its first five conference games, heading into Thursday's contest. The Cougars competed in the Lone Star Shootout in Austin, Texas Nov. 26-28, but on the opposite side of the tournament bracket, yet share two common non-conference opponents in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV. Houston is led by freshman Serithia Hawkins' 9.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season, but averages just 56 points on 34.8 percent shooting as a team, while owning a -7.7 scoring margin on the year.
PAYNE A NATIONAL TREASURE
Redshirt senior wing player Jada Payne has been one of the nation's best offensive players in 2015-16 and has the numbers to prove it. As of Tuesday, Jan. 13, Payne is one of just four NCAA Division I players to average more than 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per game along with Nathalie Fontaine (Ball State), Kristine Anigwe (California), Brittney Martin (Oklahoma State) and Ashley Southern (Lipscomb). Her 20.8 points per contest rank 18th and her nine double-doubles stand 10th nationally. The Preseason All-American Athletic Conference choice has also played the 14th-most minutes in the country.
FEELS BRAND NEW
East Carolina graduated six players last season, but only three of its six returners have been able to see the court this season. Those three (Jada Payne, I'Tiana Taylor and DeVaughn Gray) were responsible for 33.9 of the Pirates' 66.6 points per game last season, and are currently producing 41.3 of the team's 70.0 points per contest this season.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL
Jada Payne has been named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll five times this season (Nov. 16, Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Jan. 4 and Jan. 11). I'Tiana Taylor has received the same honors twice on her own (Dec. 7 and Dec. 21).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE BUBBLE
East Carolina has had at least one player compile a double-double in 10-straight games and in 15 of its first 16 contests this season. On five occasions, two or more ECU players have posted a double-double in the same game. Against No. 19 Northwestern on Nov. 28, three Pirates (Marina Laramie, I'Tiana Taylor and Jada Payne) turned the trick. Payne and Taylor are currently tied for the team lead with eight double-doubles apiece.
Nov. 22 at Delaware
Jada Payne 22 points/17 rebounds
I'Tiana Taylor 11 points/11 rebounds
Nov. 27 vs. Eastern Washington
Jada Payne 20 points/16 rebounds
I'Tiana Taylor 14 points/10 rebounds
Nov. 28 vs. No. 19 Northwestern
I'Tiana Taylor 27 points/17 rebounds
Jada Payne 22 points/13 rebounds
Marina Laramie 14 points/10 rebounds
Dec. 19 vs. Ohio
I'Tiana Taylor 19 points/17 rebounds
Marina Laramie 11 points/10 rebounds
Jan. 5 vs. Tulane
Jada Payne 12 points/10 rebounds
I'Tiana Taylor 12 points/12 rebounds
PAYNE ERUPTS AT TULSA
Jada Payne scored a season-high 31 points and set career-highs in field goals made (13) and attempts (24) in ECU's American Conference opener on Dec. 30. She also played 44 minutes in the overtime contest which was one short of her career-high.
GRAY A WBCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE
Senior DeVaughn Gray is among 103 nominees for the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team, recognizing outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement.
PAYNE BRINGS THE RAIN
Jada Payne broke her own ECU single-season record for three-pointers made with 80 in 33 games in 2014-15. She initially set the record in 2013-14 with 70 makes from beyond the arc and is on pace to break the school record for conversions in just three years:
Player 3-Pt FGM
1. Allison Spivey (2007-11) 201
2. Jasmine Young (2005-09) 178
3. Jada Payne (2013-pres.) 172
4. Justine Allpress (1993-97) 166
5. Jennifer Jackson (2001-05) 159
6. Tali Robich (1999-2003) 155
7. Misty Horne (1996-99) 137
8. LaCoya Terry (2005-09) 104
PAYNE CLIMBING ALL-TIME SCORING CHART
In just two full seasons, Jada Payne scored the 17th-most points in ECU history and is on pace to become one of top three scorers the program has ever had in just three years' time. She has scored 569 and 563 points, respectively, in each of the last two seasons and has 1,737-career points overall. With 263 more during her senior campaign, she will eclipse 2,000 for her career.
Player Points
1. Rosie Thompson (1975-80) 2,352
2. Mary Denkler (1979-83) 1,789
3. LaCoya Terry (2005-09) 1,648
4. Jasmine Young (2005-09) 1,591
5. Debbie Freeman (1974-78) 1,570
6. Tonya Hargrove (1988-92) 1,532
7. Jennifer Jackson (2001-05) 1,490
8. Jada Payne (2013-pres.) 1,465
9. Courtney Willis (2000-04) 1,374
10. Sylvia Bragg (1982-86) 1,366
