Dec. 6, 2007

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University's 11th annual Lady Eagle Basketball Classic tips off Friday (Dec. 7) with a rematch of the CIAA Championship Game inside NCCU's McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. Admission is only $5.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., classic host NCCU (0-10) will meet Elizabeth City State University (3-2) for the first time since the Lady Eagles defeated ECSU 89-72 on March 3 in Charlotte, N.C., to claim the conference crown.

Friday's 7:30 p.m. match-up features Fayetteville State University (4-0) against Barton College (2-3).

On Saturday, Barton will face ECSU at 2 p.m., followed by NCCU versus FSU in the 4 p.m. contest.

NCCU boasts a 12-8 record during the previous 10 Lady Eagle Classics, which includes a 68-55 victory over Elizabeth City State on Dec. 29, 2001.

ECSU holds a 2-2 record in the Lady Eagle Classic, including two victories in last year's event. The 2006 Lady Eagle Classic Most Valuable Player, ECSU senior Celeste Trahan, enters the weekend averaging 23.2 points, 18.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 blocked shots per game.

FSU is 3-1 in Lady Eagle Classic games, including two wins in the Lady Broncos' last appearance in 2001.

This is Barton's first time participating in the Lady Eagle Classic.

NCCU, in its first season as a Division I basketball program, is led by sophomore Jori Nwachukwu with team-high averages of 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

NCCU's games may be heard on WRJD 1410 AM as Donal Ware and Hanif Omar call the action, starting with the pre-game show at 5:15 p.m. on Friday and 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. To listen on-line, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.