Dec. 26, 2011

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East Carolina vs. No. 19 Delaware Dec. 28, 2011 | 2:30 p.m. ET College Park, Md. (Comcast Center) TV: None

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GENERAL INFORMATION Date December 28, 2011 Location College Park, Md. (Comcast Center) TV None Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ecuwomenshoops EAST CAROLINA PIRATES Record 6-4 Ranking NR Last Game L, 65-61 vs. No. 22 North Carolina Head Coach Heather Macy Career Record: 137-58 East Carolina Record: 22-19 DELAWARE BLUE HENS Record 9-0 Ranking 19/20 Last Game W, 68-47 at Providence Head Coach Tina Martin Career: 287-175 Delaware Record: Same

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - East Carolina faces its second-straight nationally-ranked opponent Wednesday, challenging No. 19 Delaware to open the Terrapin Classic at the Comcast Center. Tipoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.

The Pirates, 6-4 overall, split a pair of games at the Carolinas Challenge last week in Myrtle Beach, downing Jacksonville 70-64 before falling short of No. 22 North Carolina by a 65-61 score.

Against the Dolphins, Britny Edwards posted her second double-double of the season, scoring 14 points to go along with a game-high 18 rebounds. It was the first time since Kim Gay pulled down 15 against Prairie View last season that a ECU player has grabbed 15 or more boards. Two other East Carolina players reached double figures offensively, as Shala Hodges and Tatiana Chapple netted 15 and 14 points, respectively. Katie Paschal and Kristine Mial distributed three assists as well to help the offense flow.

The Pirates knocked down a season second-best 26 field goals on 65 attempts to end up with a 43-percent shooting mark as East Carolina hit on 57 percent in the second 20 minutes. The Pirates also pulled down 47 rebounds (14 offensive) while limiting Jacksonville to 39. Down low, ECU outscored the Dolphins 38-24 in the paint and ended with a 29-23 advantage in bench points.

Four East Carolina players netted double figures in the contest against the Tar Heels, led by Chareya Smith's 14 points. Shala Hodges, Tatiana Chapple and Celeste Stewart also put in 12, 11 and 10 respectively. Britny Edwards was the top rebounder for ECU, pulling down eight while Stewart, Katie Paschal and Bryelle Smith recorded three assists each. Chay Shegog was the offensive force for North Carolina, powering her way to 19 points.

The Pirates put up 64 shots, converting 23 of them for a 39-percent mark while the Tar Heels used their height advantage down low to shoot 45 percent. Nonetheless, East Carolina played UNC pretty evenly on the boards, giving up 41 rebounds but securing 38 of its own - including pulling down 14 offensive boards as compared to 13 for North Carolina. ECU also committed just 14 turnovers while picking up eight steals and forcing 17 Tar Heel miscues.

North Carolina was whistled for just 12 fouls in the contest as East Carolina was called for 24, leading to a 27-7 margin in free throw attempts for the Tar Heels.

The Blue Hens enter Wednesday's matchup at 9-0 and most recently posted a 68-47 road win at Providence. Junior Elena Delle Donne, the nation's leading scorer at 29.2 points per game, surpassed the 20-point mark for the 13th straight game as she equaled her season average of 29 by going 9 of 13 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Five other Blue Hens contributed six points each including junior forward Danielle Parker, who also tied Delle Donne with a team-leading nine boards.

The Blue Hens shot 51.1 percent from the field (23 of 45) and went an impressive 18 of 20 from the free throw line during the victory. Meanwhile, Delaware limited Providence to just 29.2 percent shooting (19 of 65) as the Lady Friars were just 2 of 16 from behind the arc.

THE SERIES: DELAWARE
Sunday's meeting marks the first between the Pirates and Blue Hens.

ECU AGAINST THE COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
East Carolina holds an all-time mark of 137-135 (.504) against the current members of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Pirates have squared off against Drexel (2-0), George Mason (24-21), Georgia State (1-0), Hofstra (1-0), James Madison (26-29), Northeastern (1-0), Old Dominion (8-42), Towson (1-0), VCU (13-11), William and Mary (31-11) and UNCW (29-21).

NATIONALLY RANKED
With the third release of the national statisitics rankings, East Carolina finds itself pretty high on the list in a few categories. The Pirates are eighth in steals per game, 13th in scoring defense, 25th in turnover margin and 38th in scoring margin. Additionally, junior Britny Edwards is 50th in blocked shots per game.

TENACIOUS "D"
ECU has held each of its 10 opponents to an average of 52.1 points per game after allowing 69.1 last season. The Pirates are also averaging 25.7 turnovers forced per contest.

SHALA'S SCORING SURGE
After averaging just 4.5 points per game last season, junior Shala Hodges is poised to have a breakout year offensively. She is putting in a team-best 12.9 points per contest so far and netted a career-high 28 points against Virginia Intermont. Hodges also leads the team at the foul line, converting 36 of her 46 attempts.

THE STARTING 10
It seems like the Pirate bench gets deeper with each passing season and is an extension of the starting five. East Carolina's bench has outscored its opponents' reserves in 81 of the last 102 contests.

THREE ME
With eight three-point field goals drained against No. 22 North Carolina, East Carolina has made at least one triple in 52-straight games. The Pirates have knocked down two or more treys in each contest of the streak.

UP NEXT FOR EAST CAROLINA
After the Terrapin Classic, ECU travels to southeastern Virginia to close nonconference play by facing Hampton Jan. 2 at the HU Convocation Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.