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Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball Preview: Northeastern

Northeastern Game Day Information

Date | Time

 February 24th | 2 p.m.

Venue (Location/Capacity)

 Trask Coliseum (Wilmington, N.C./5,500)

Tickets

 UNCW Ticket Office

Online

 Live Stats | HawkVision (Pay-Per-View Video)

Social Media

 Facebook ( UNCWsports.com) Twitter (Team | UNCWsports.com)

UNCW Team Information

 Team Site | Game Notes | Records Book

NU Team Information

 Team site | Game Notes | Records Book

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The UNCW women's basketball team returns home Sunday to host Northeastern in a 2 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association matinee at Trask Coliseum.

Sunday's contest will serve as senior day, with the program recognizing senior student-athletes Karneshia Garrett, Tawanna Lee and Chelsea McGowen prior to the start of the contest.

Seahawk Storylines

  • The Seahawks (3-21; 2-11 CAA) eye a return to the win column after suffering a 59-47 defeat at Drexel on Tuesday. Sophomore Kelva Atkins scored 17 points and Garrett chipped 10 to pace UNCW, but the Seahawks were unable to stop the Dragons duo of Hollie Mershon and Taylor Wooton, who combined for 31 points in the second half to lead the Dragons to the 12-point victory.
  • UNCW has struggled to rebound the basketball this season as it ranks 11th in the CAA and 309th in the NCAA in rebounding margin (-5.6). The Seahawks have been out-rebounded by their opponent in all but seven of its 24 games this season, but enter Tuesday's conetst having posting a positive rebounding margin in each of its last three contests (+9 vs. George Mason, +2 vs. Georgia State & +5 at Drexel).
  • The Seahawks have made it hard for the opposition to make shots from the field this season as opponents are making just 38.7 percent (580-of-1499) of their tries from the field this season, representing the sixth-best field goal percentage defense in program history. Of UNCW's 24 opponents this season, only nine have shot better than 40 percent from the field against UNCW.
  • UNCW has struggled to shoot the basketball this season, ranking 10th in the CAA and 260th nationally in field goal percentage, making just 36.7 percent (475-of-1294) of its attempts from the floor this season. The Seahawks have shot better than 40 percent from the floor in just seven of 24 games this season, but five of those performances have come in the last 12 contests. (William & Mary, Drexel, Towson, Hofstra and Georgia State).
  • Senior forward Karneshia Garrett has been a force to be reckoned with on the glass this season as she enters today's contest ranked 18th in the nation in rebounds per game (11.2). She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in 13 of 23 games played this season, highlighted by a 20-rebound effort against Georgia State on Feb. 17. She has pulled down double-digit boards in six of the last eight games, recording a double-double in each of those contests as she has averaged 12.1 rebounds per game during that stretch.
  • Garrett has also picked up her point production in recent games, averaging 13.7 points in the Seahawks' last 11 contests. Garrett is shooting 48.8 percent (59-of-121) from the field during that stretch as she has reached double figures in all but one of those 11 contests, highlighted by a career-high 22-point effort against Georgia State on Sunday.
  • Junior guard Jessica Freeman leads the team in steals (2.7) and ranks second in scoring (10.6) and third in assists (2.3). Freeman poured in a career-high 27 points in the Seahawks victory over Georgia State on Feb. 17, going 9-of-15 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
  • Freeman has served as an iron-woman of sorts for the Seahawks, having played 40 or more minutes in 11 games this season, highlighted by a career-high 43 minutes against Georgia State on Feb.17. She leads the league in minutes played per game (36.9).

Drexel Recap

UNCW dropped to 3-21 overall and 2-11 in CAA play with a 59-47 setback at Drexel on Tuesday.

  • Seniors Hollie Mershon and Taylor Wooton combined to score 31 of the Dragons' 41 points in the second half to lead a Drexel attack that knocked down 53.8 percent (14-of-26) of its shots in the second half to overcome a 25.8 percent (8-of-31) effort from the floor in the first half. Wooton led all players with 25 points while Mershon finished with 19 points.
  • Sophomore Kelva Atkins scored 17 points, all in the second half, and senior Karneshia Garrett added 10 for UNCW. Atkins, Garrett and senior Chelsea McGowen pulled down six rebounds apiece as the Seahawks held a 33-28 advantage on the glass. Senior Tawanna Lee dished out a career-high seven assists.
  • Drexel held a 30-10 advantage in points in the paint, highlighted by a 16-4 edge in the second half.
  • UNCW committed 20 or more turnovers for the seventh time this season as it finished with 24 miscues. The Dragons were able to convert the 24 Seahawks miscues into 27 points.
  • The Seahawks out-rebounded its opponent for the third straight contest and the seventh time this season. UNCW moved to 3-4 on the campaign when it finishes with more rebounds than its opponent.
  • UNCW shot below 40 percent from the floor for the 17th time this season and moved to 0-17 when doing so.
  • UNCW shot below 70 percent from the free throw line for the 17th time this season as it was 9-of-14 (.643) at the charity stripe. The Dragons were a perfect 10-for-10 for the game from the line.
  • The Seahawks were held below 50 points for the eighth time this season and moved to 0-8 on the campaign when scoring fewer than 50 points in a contest.
  • Senior guard Tawanna Lee established a new career high in assists with seven, breaking old mark of six set on five previous occasions.

Scouting Northeastern

  • Northeastern (14-10; 7-6 CAA) makes its way to the Port City looking to continue its winning ways after knocking off Georgia State, 65-50, on Thursday at Solomon Court.
  • First-Team Preseason All-CAA selection senior Deanna Kerkhof leads the Huskies in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game to rank eighth in the league in that category.She has reached double figures in points in 19 of 23 games played this season.
  • Senior Kashaia Cannon ranks second on the team in scoring (13.7) and has been hot of late from downtown, hitting five or more 3-pointers in each of the last three contests. She currently ranks third in the CAA in 3-point field goal percentage (.420).
  • Junior Jewel Tunstall paces Northeastern's effort on the class, ranking third on the circuit in rebounds per game (8.8). Tunstall has also been a force on the offensive end, averaging 12.3 points per game on the strength of a league-best .555 field goal percentage.
  • The Huskies are coached by Daynia La-Force, who is in her seventh season with the program. La-Force has led Northeastern to a 73-133 overall record, highlighted by a tenure-best 14 victories this season.

Series Notes Versus Northeastern

  • Thursday's contest marks the 12th meeting between Northeastern and UNCW.
  • The Seahawks hold a 6-5 lead in the series and enter tonight's contest on a four-game winning streak after sweeping the season series from the Huskies a season ago.
  • UNCW holds a 3-2 record in five previous contests against Northeastern at Trask Coliseum.
  • The Seahawks have won each of the last two meetings between the two programs in the Port City, including a 60-53 triumph on Jan. 5, 2012.

Half-Dollar Defense

The Seahawks are 53-0 since the start of the 2002-03 campaign when limiting the opposition to 50 points or less.

  • UNCW held its first opponent to 50 points or less during the Adell Harris era with a 59-45 victory over North Carolina Central on Nov. 28. The win also marked the first time the Seahawks had limited its opposition to fewer than 50 points since a 76-47 victory at Towson on Feb. 24, 2011.
  • The last time the Seahawks lost a game in which they held their opponent to less than 50 points was a 49-44 setback at rival Campbell on Nov. 17, 2001.

Interstate 70

UNCW is 70-8 (.897) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign when it scores 70 or more points in a contest.

  • The Seahawks reached the 70-point plateau for the first time this season in their 84-83 overtime victory against Georgia State on Feb. 17. The 84 points matched the eighth highest point total for a UNCW squad since the start of the 2000-01 season.
  • UNCW is 24-2 since the start of the 2010-11 season when reaching the 70-point plateau.
  • UNCW's last loss when scoring 70 or more points came in a 79-73 setback to Appalachian State in the first round of the Postseason WNIT last March.

Getting Off To a Good Start important for UNCW

The Seahawks are 68-23 (.747) since the start of the 2007-08 season when leading at halftime.

  • UNCW is just 1-6 this season when holding a halftime advantage. Five of the Seahawks last six losses have come under such circumstances.
  • Four of the Seahawks six losses when leading at the half this season have come in games where their halftime advantage was three points or less (25-24 vs. Charlotte; 30-27 at Towson; 33-32 vs. William & Mary; 27-26 vs. George Mason) while a fifth such contest featured a four-point intermission advantage (32-28 vs. Hofstra).
  • On the flip side, the Seahawks are just 22-64 (.255) since 2007-08 and just 2-13 this season when trailing at intermission. UNCW has defeated William & Mary (23-22) and Georgia State (38-34) this season when trailing at the break.

Double-Digit Dominance

UNCW has benefitted from building big leads in recent years as it is a combined 69-8 (.896) since the start of the 2007-08 season when it holds a lead of 10 points or more during a contest.

  • The Seahawks are 2-3 this season under such circumstances. Three of the Seahawks last five losses have come after UNCW has held a double-digit lead (11 vs. William & Mary; 12 at Old Dominion and 11 vs. Hofstra).
  • The Seahawks have struggled to overcome big deficits in that same timeframe, posting a 13-71 (.155) mark during games in which they have trailed by 10 points or more. Nine of those 13 victories, however, have come since the start of the 2010-11 season, including their 61-52 win at William & Mary on Jan. 8 and their 84-83 overtime triumph against Georgia State on Feb. 17.

Youth Movement

According to research conducted by the athletic communications department at St. John's University, UNCW Head Coach Adell Harris is one of the youngest Division I head coaches in the country.

  • Harris is the 10th youngest head coach in the nation based on birth date, having celebrated her 32nd birthday on May 1, just two days before accepting the head coaching position at UNCW.
  • Harris is the youngest coach in the CAA, but not the youngest in the state of North Carolina. That honor goes to High Point Head Coach DeUnna Hendrix. The 28-year-old is in her first season as head coach of the Panthers.

Freeman, Lee Making Their Way Up School's Three-Point Chart

Senior Tawanna Lee and redshirt junior Jessica Freeman are both making their way up the school's career three-point field goals made chart.

  • Freeman currently sits in 6th place on the all-time list with103 three-pointers made while Lee is in 9th place with 89 treys made.
  • Freeman entered the program's top ten list for career three-point field goals made with her three made trifectas in UNCW's game at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 20. One of six players to make 100 3-pointers in their UNCW career, Freeman enters tonight's game seven three's away from matching Denise Marsh for fifth place on the all-time list (110).
  • Lee, meanwhile, moved into the top 10 by knocking down four 3-point attempts against Hofstra on Feb. 5. She begins tonight's contest one 3-pointer away from trying Jeri Lyn Coker for eighth place (90).
  • Both players have been consistent from beyond the arc during their careers, with Lee and Freeman tied for seventh on the squad's chart for career three-point field goal percentage (.340). Freeman led the league in three-point field goal percentage in 2011-12 (.414), while Lee ranks eighth on the circuit this season in that category (.345).

Hail To the Thief

Junior guard Jessica Freeman recently moved into the top 10 of the program's career steals chart.

  • Currently tied for fifth place on the program's all-time steals chart, Freeman entered the top 10 on Jan. 31, recording five steals against William & Mary to surpass Johnnie Smith to gain entry on the the school's all-time thefts chart.
  • Freeman enters today's contest with 185 career steals and needs just one theft to surpass Candace Walker for sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time list.
  • Thievery is nothing new for the Charlotte, N.C. native as Freeman ranked sixth in the league in steals in 2011-12 (2.2). She currently ranks second among all league players in that category (2.6).
  • Freeman has turned some memorable steals performances during her career. She matched a CAA tournament record with eight steals in the Seahawks victory over the Pride in the 2012 tournament quarterfinals and recently established a new career high with nine steals in the Seahawks contest against Hofstra on Feb. 5.
  • Eight of Freeman's nine steals against the Pride on Feb. 5 came in the first half, representing the most steals in a single half this season by a Division I player.

The 20-20 Club

Senior Karneshia Garrett joined an exclusive club with her performance against Georgia State on Feb. 17.

  • Garrett finished with career highs of 22 points and 20 rebounds in the overtime victory against the Panthers, becoming the first UNCW player to record 20 or more points and rebounds in the same game since the 1987-88 season.
  • Sharon McDowell was the last Seahawk player to accomplish the feat, finishing with 20 points and 20 rebounds against East Carolina Feb. 27, 1988.

Garrett Eyes Entry Onto Single-Season Rebounding Chart

Senior Karneshia Garrett enters today's contest looking to gain entry onto the program's single season rebounding chart.

  • Garrett has grabbed 253 rebounds heading into Tuesday's contest and needs just five boards to match Brittany Blackwell (258) for 10th place on the program's single-season chart.
  • Garrett has averaged 11.0 rebounds per game this season, the fifth highest single-season total in school history. She has pulled down double-digit rebounds in 13 of 23 games played this season, including a career-high 20 rebounds in the Seahawks' overtime victory against Georgia State on Feb. 17.

Garrett Receives CAA Honor

UNCW senior forward Karneshia Garrett was named CAA Co-Player-of-the-Week on Feb. 18.

  • A native of Hoover, Ala., Garrett averaged 18.5 points and 19.5 rebounds in leading the Seahawks to a 1-1 mark against George Mason and Georgia State.
  • Garrett shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the floor and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the free-throw line as she played all but two of UNCW's 85 minutes on the floor.
  • Garrett opened the week with 15 points and 19 rebounds versus George Mason on Thursday and followed that performance with career highs of 22 points, 20 rebounds and six blocked shots in the Seahawks' overtime victory against Georgia State on Sunday.

Harris, McGowen Reunited

When UNCW Head Coach Adell Harris took over the Seahawks program last May, she was already familiar with one player on her new roster from her time at Tusculum College.

  • Harris coached current UNCW senior Chelsea McGowen at Tusculum during the 2009-10 season.
  • Together the duo combined to lead the Pioneers to a 23-10 overall record, the South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight.
  • McGowen averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds during her freshman season before transferring to Brunswick Community College for the 2011-12 campaign.

Up Next

UNCW returns to the road Thursday as it travels to Fairfax, Va., to complete its season series with George Mason in a 7 p.m. contest at the Patriot Center.

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