2019-20 MEAC Women's Basketball Statistics | MEAC Women's Basketball Notes


NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 2, 2020 -- The race for the 2019-20 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) women's basketball regular-season title begins on Saturday, as 10 of the league's 11 institutions will tip off conference play in hopes of positioning themselves for a tournament run in March.

Heading into the first week of conference play, defending regular-season champion North Carolina A&T State and defending tournament champion Bethune-Cookman both have the league's best record at 8-4. The Aggies, who have won two straight and are coming off a win at VCU, are the preseason favorite, while the Wildcats were picked to finish second in the league.

Howard enters MEAC play with an 8-5 mark, and Norfolk State (6-7) has also notched several impressive non-conference wins -- and Chanette Hicks had emerged as one of the league's most dynamic players.

Hicks was named MEAC Co-Player and Defensive Player of the Week after her 31-point, 8-steal, 7-rebound, 5-assist performance against Richmond. She shared the Player of the Week honor with North Carolina Central's Paulina Afriyie, who tied her career high with 25 points to go along with nine rebounds in a win over Long Island.

Florida A&M's Alaina Rice was named MEAC Rookie of the Week.

Hicks ranks second in the nation in steals per game and triple-doubles, third in free throw attempts and field goals made, seventh in points per game, 19th in free throws made and 29th in assists per game. She leads the conference in scoring, assists, steals and minutes played, and she is second in the league in assist/turnover ratio.

Howard's Jayla Thornton, meanwhile, is ffith in 3-pointers attempted, 13th in 3-pointers made and 17th in made 3-pointers per game.

The 2020 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 10-14 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. Florida A&M is ineligible for the conference title and postseason play.

Here is this weekend's slate of games:


Saturday, Jan. 4
Florida A&M at North Carolina Central, 2 p.m.
Howard at Maryland Eastern Shore, 2 p.m.
South Carolina State at Coppin State, 2 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State, 4 p.m.
Morgan State at Delaware State, 4 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 6
Norfolk State at Coppin State, 5:30 p.m.
Beth-Cookman at Howard, 5:30 p.m.
Florida A&M at North Carolina A&T State, 5:30 p.m.
South Carolina State at Morgan State, 5:30 p.m.