Gameday: Pirates Host Liberty On Education Day

Game 8: Liberty (2-4) at ECU (5-2)
Date	Thursday, Dec. 13
Time	11:30 a.m. (EST)
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Coverage	Live Stats \ Watch \ Listen \ Tickets
Information	ECU Game Notes \ Liberty Notes \ AAC Notes
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUWomensHoops Instagram: @ECUWomensHoops Facebook: ECU Women's Basketball

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Following a 12-day layoff, the ECU women's basketball team is back in action on Thursday morning when the Pirates host Liberty inside Minges Coliseum for the team's annual Education Day.

ECU (5-2) is currently on a two-game losing streak after starting the season 5-0. All five wins have come at home for the Pirates, while the losses happened at William & Mary and Charlotte. The Pirates' offense has been the difference in wins and losses, as ECU averages 70.8 points per game on 42.4% shooting in wins and just 44.5 points on 25.7% shooting in losses. ECU has consistently been able to force turnovers, averaging 24.9 per game, which is the second-highest total in the American conference.

The Pirates have been led by Raven Johnson and Lashonda Monk so far this season. Johnson leads the Pirates in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) and is second on the team in assists (21) and steals (17). The junior from Lilburn, Ga., is one of only five players in the country averaging at least 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Monk is second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and leads the Pirates with 22 assists and 28 steals. Monk has racked up single-game totals of nine and eight steals already this season as well as scoring a career-high 25 points in a win over Wake Forest.

Liberty (2-6) comes to Greenville after a nine-day layoff. The Flames most recently beat East Tennessee State 89-86 to snap a four-game losing streak. Liberty is led in scoring by Emily Lyttle (15.9 ppg) while Bridgette Rettstatt is the team's leading rebounder (7.6 rpg). The Flames have struggled to defend the three-point line this season, as opponents are shooting 41.3% from behind the arc this year. The Flames have also struggled to hold onto the ball, turning it over 19.6 times a game.

Thursday's game will be the first ever meeting between ECU and Liberty. In its history, ECU is 132-77 the first time the Pirates play a program. The last time ECU matched up with a team for the first time was last season, when the Pirates had their inaugural games against Wichita State, Rider, Jacksonville State, USC-Upstate and Kennesaw State. ECU went 4-1 in those five games, losing to just Jacksonville State. ECU is 4-1 all-time against ASUN opponents. The Pirates are 1-0 against Jacksonville, 2-0 against Kennesaw State (including a 68-56 win earlier this season) and a 1-1 record against Stetson.

It will be the sixth annual Education Day inside Minges Coliseum on Thursday morning as students from all over Pitt County will come to Greenville for the game. Last season, the Pirates hosted NC Central on Dec. 14 in front of 5,306 fans, the second-highest total in program history. The record crowd was 5,408 fans on Education Day in Nov. 2015. The Pirates are 5-0 all-time during Education Day, winning by double-digits in each contest.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., on Thursday morning. Fans can watch the game here as well as follow the live stats here.

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Players Mentioned

Raven Johnson

Lashonda Monk

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