Gameday: ECU Hosts Wichita State In AAC Home Opener

Wednesday, January 9

Greenville, N.C.

7 PM

East Carolina University

Wichita State University

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

January 08, 2019 | Women's Basketball

ECU Notes (PDF)Watch Live Listen Live Live Stats

Game 15: Wichita State (7-7, 0-1) at ECU (9-5, 0-1)
Date	Saturday, Jan. 9
Time	7 p.m. (EST)
Location	Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Coverage	Live Stats \ Watch \ Listen \ Tickets
Information	ECU Notes \ Wichita St. Notes
Social Media	Twitter: @ECUWomensHoops Instagram: @ECUWomensHoops Facebook: ECU Women's Basketball

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Carrying a three-game losing streak, the ECU women's basketball team will try to right the ship on Wednesday night when the Pirates host Wichita State inside Minges Coliseum.

ECU (9-5, 0-1) started its AAC slate with a 68-57 loss at Tulane. ECU was down 41-21 at the half, the biggest halftime deficit of the season, but showed positive signs in the second half to cut into the lead. Ariyana Williams led the team with 15 points, all coming on three-pointers, while Lashonda Monk finished with a double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds). Monk added five steals and seven assists. Raven Johnson was also in double-figures, scoring 12 points. The Pirates forced 20 Tulane turnovers, bringing their average to 23.6 forced turnovers per game which leads the AAC.

The Pirates are trying to avoid an 0-2 start in the AAC for the fifth consecutive season. To do so, ECU will need to do a better job on the glass, as the Pirates have been outrebounded by 14.7 boards during the past three-game losing streak and by 18.6 in its five losses. In wins, the Pirates have been outrebounded by just 2.1 rebounds. Leading scorers Raven Johnson and Monk have elevated their games at home, averaging 15.8 and 15.0 points in home games, respectively, against 9.8 and 7.8 points on the road. ECU will also be buoyed by the return of Necole Hope, who missed the Tulane game due to injury. Hope last scored a career-high 25 points against UNC Wilmington and hit six three-pointers.

Wichita State (7-7, 0-1) comes into Greenville having dropped its first conference game 63-49 at Tulsa. It was the fourth time this season that the Shockers have failed to break the 50-point barrier and dropped their road record to 0-2. Jaida Hampton is Wichita State's leading scorer, averaging 9.1 points, but seven different players average between 5.0 and 10 points per game. Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage is right behind Hampton in scoring (8.6 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and blocks (13). Seraphine Bastin is the team's leader in assists (50) and steals (25). The Shockers have struggled with turnovers, giving the ball away 19.6 times per game.

The two schools have met just once, with the game coming last season. During the 2017-18 season, which was Wichita State's first in the AAC, ECU topped the Shockers 77-67 inside Minges Coliseum. Heading into the fourth quarter of that win, the Pirates trailed 58-47, but ECU outscored Wichita State 30-9 in the final frame to pull away for the win. Lashonda Monk led the team with 19 points and seven assists while Salita Greene completed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Wednesday will be ECU's conference home opener and the Pirates are 0-4 in AAC openers inside Minges Coliseum. ECU is 19-14 all-time in its conference home openers, with the last win coming during the 2013-14 season. During its time in the AAC, ECU is 16-18 at home, including a 5-3 home record last season.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Wednesday evening. Fans can watch the game here, listen to the radio broadcast here or follow the live stats here.