Jan. 4, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

PHOTO GALLERY from NCCU at Duke (Jan. 3)

The Game: The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central women's basketball team are on the road again when they take on High Point University on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Mills Center. The Eagles (2-15) opened the New Year with a loss to crosstown foe #12 Duke 82-29. The Lady Eagles will be led into the game by sophmore forward Jori Nwachukwu with 14.5 points per game.

Media Coverage: N/A

North Carolina Central Series Note: High Point and N.C. Central will meet for the third time in school history on Saturday with the series currently High Point leads the series 2-0.

The two squads have not met since the 1977-78 season.

LAST TIMEOUT: Chante Black did not miss a shot in scoring 17 points, and No. 12 Duke rolled past North Carolina Central, 82-29, Thursday night.

Black went 7-for-7 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line as Duke (11-3) won its sixth straight overall and its 22nd in a row at home. Duke's Wanisha Smith had 14 points and seven assists, while Joy Cheek, Abby Waner and reserve Karima Christmas each added 10 points. Jori Nwachukwu and LaVonna Hailey each scored eight points to lead North Carolina Central (2-15), playing in its first season as a NCAA Division I team. The Blue Devils were helped by North Carolina Central's 31 turnovers, 21 in the first half, and Duke's 51-26 edge in rebounding. Cheek and Smith each had eight rebounds. Duke led 36-13 at halftime. North Carolina Central scored the fewest points of any Duke opponent this season. Black hit five shots from the field and had 11 points in the first half. After hitting just 15 of 39 shots in the first half, Duke made 19 of its last 36 shots to end up with a 45.3 shooting percentage.

North Carolina Central went scoreless in the last 4:59 of the first half, and Duke closed with a 12-0 run. Duke used a 30-2 run over a 9:55 span in the second half to blow the game open.

Duke claimed a 4-3 lead in the series with its crosstown non-conference rival.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AND AGAIN: The Lady Eagles are on the road for majortity of the season. Since becoming a Division I Independent, NCCU will travel to Tennessee, Ohio, Flordia, Pennsylvania (twice), Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and of course North Carolina.

LOOKING AT HIGH POINT : Four players scored in double figures for High Point, but the Panthers were unable to overcome the Bulldogs as Gardner-Webb University defeated High Point, 75-62 in women's basketball action on Wednesday night.

The Panthers (6-7) were led by freshman LaTeisha Dean with 19 points. Frances Fields and Amber Manuel each added 12 while Amy Dodd had 11. Manuel was just one rebound shy of a double-double, pulling down a team-high nine. For the Bulldogs (4-9) Margaret Roundtree had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Monique Hudson added 11 points. LaToya Carter was also in double digits in rebounding with 10.

The two teams kept it close to open up the game as High Point took a six point lead twice in the opening 10 minutes, the last coming off a pair of free throws from Manuel at the 11:19 mark. GWU would respond with an 18-1 run, holding the Panthers scoreless for over six minutes during the stretch. Fields would finally break the drought with 2:34 to go in the half off a layup to cut the lead to nine (29-20). The Bulldogs would respond to close out the half with a six straight from the field to take the 35-21 lead into the break.

High Point came out firing in the second half and cut the lead down to eight at the 16 minute mark off a lay-up from Jennifer Long, GWU bounced back though to increase the lead to take the largest lead of the game up 16 (55-39) with 7:52 remaining. The Panthers would again cut the lead down with 52 seconds to go off back-to-back three pointers from Dean and Dodd to pull within 9, 71-62, but GWU would hold off the Panthers for the win.

The Bulldogs held a 50-34 advantage on the boards, but barely edged the Panthers in scoring in the paint, 38-36.

Opponent's Quick Facts:

Location: High Point, N.C.

Founded: 1924

Enrollment: 3,000

Nickname: Panthers

Colors: Purple (PMS 2685) and White

Conference: Big South (NCAA Division I)

President: Dr. Nido Qubein (High Point '70)

Director of Athletics: Dr. Woody Gibson (High Point '75)

Head Coach: Tooey Loe

Alma Mater, Year: High Point `94

Record at School (years) 100-75 (7th)