2019-20 MEAC Women's Basketball Statistics | MEAC Women's Basketball Notes
NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 13, 2020--With less than a month remaining before the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament (March 10-14 at Norfolk Scope Arena), the women's race for the regular-season crown is in danger of becoming a two-horse race.
After this past weekend, Bethune-Cookman has a half-game lead in the standings over Norfolk State. The Lady Wildcats (9-1) have won nine in a row after an 88-59 win over Howard this past Monday. The Spartans, meanwhile, sit at 8-1 in league play after Saturday's overtime win over Delaware State.
North Carolina A&T State and Morgan State are tied for third at 8-3, and Delaware State is hanging around in fifth place at 6-3 in MEAC play. Howard currently sits in sixth at 6-5.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
Bethune-Cookman will hit the road to take on Maryland Eastern Shore, while Norfolk State will be at home for another tough test in Morgan State. North Carolina A&T State will play host to rival North Carolina Central, and Delaware State will welcome Florida A&M to Memorial Gym.
Coppin State, fresh off its first win of the season (66-63 over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday) will hit the road to take on South Carolina State.
MONDAY'S GAMES
Bethune-Cookman will wrap up its road trip against Delaware State and Norfolk State will welcome Coppin State to Echols Hall. Florida A&M will be at Maryland Eastern Shore and Morgan State will head further south to square off against South Carolina State.
AROUND THE MEAC
Norfolk State's La'Deja James and Bethune-Cookman's Ashanti Hunt were named MEAC Co-Players of the Week for their respective performances this past weekend. Norfolk State's Cam Platt-Morris, who hit the 3-pointer that sent the Spartans to overtime against Delaware State, was named Rookie of the Week, while Coppin State's E'Mya Price and North Carolina Central's Paulina Afriiyie shared Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The Spartans' Chanette Hicks continues to rank among the best offensive and defensive players in Div. I, despite having missed the past two games. She is second in the nation in both steals per game and total steals, while ranking third in triple-doubles, seventh in points per game and field goal attempts and eighth in field goals made.
She is also 35th in total points and assists per game.
Morgan State's Chelsea Mitchell leads the MEAC and ranks 21st nationally with 11 double-doubles on the season. Mitchell, a do-everything force for the contending Lady Bears, is third nationally in total steals and fourth in steals per game and offensive rebounds per game.
In addition, she is 28th in total rebounds and 44th in rebounds per game.
With 1,114 career rebounds, Coppin State's Chance Graham currently sits eighth all-time in the MEAC -- 88 rebounds behind seventh-place Alisha Hill (Howard, 1994-98). Graham has nine double-doubles on the season, second-most in the MEAC, and she ranks 17th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, 43rd in total rebounds and 48th in rebounds per game.
Howard's Jayla Thornton is one of the nation's best 3-point shooters, ranking fifth in Div. I in 3-point attempts, 19th in total threes made and 30th in 3-pointers made per game.
South Carolina State's Jacquece Alston is 33rd in the nation in total steals and 46th in steals per game.
Afriyie is 41st in the nation in field goal percentage.