WILMINGTON, North
Carolina - The UNCW women's basketball team
closes out its regular season schedule Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee versus
Northeastern at Solomon Court. The contest between the Seahawks and Huskies was
originally scheduled to take place Feb. 10, but was postponed due to winter
storm Nemo.
Seahawk Storylines
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UNCW (3-25: 2-15 CAA) returns
to the road after closing out its home schedule with a 66-57 setback to
visiting Towson on Wednesday.
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Towson strung together a
11-3 spurt midway through the second half to pull away from UNCW and earn a
sweep of the season series. CAA Player-of-the-Week Tanisha McTiller scored 13
points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Tigers, who shot 46.0 percent
from the floor and held a 38-31 advantage on the glass.
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Senior guard Tawanna Lee
paced three Seahawks in double figures with 16 points. Sophomore guard Kelva
Atkins added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists and senior forward
Karneshia Garrett finished with 10 points and 11 boards for her 13th
double-double of the season.
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UNCW has struggled to rebound the basketball
this season as it ranks 11th in the CAA and 317th in the NCAA in rebounding
margin (-6.6). The Seahawks have been out-rebounded by their opponent in all
but seven of its 28 games this season, but enter today's contest having posting
a positive rebounding margin in three of its last seven contests (+9 vs. George
Mason, +2 vs. Georgia State & +5 at Drexel).
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The Seahawks have made it hard for the
opposition to make shots from the field this season as opponents are making
just 39.6 percent (684-of-1726) of their tries from the field this season,
representing the sixth-best field goal percentage defense in program history.
Of UNCW's 28 games played this season, the Seahawks opponent has shot better
than 40 percent from the field on just 13 occasions. But each of the Seahawks
last four opponents have shot better than 40 percent from the floor, teamming
up to knock down 45.8 percent (104-of-227) of their attempts from the field in
that span.
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UNCW has struggled to shoot
the basketball this season, ranking 10th in the CAA and 274th nationally in
field goal percentage, making just 36.4 percent (554-of-1524) of its attempts
from the floor this season. The Seahawks have shot better than 40 percent from
the floor in just eight of 28 games this season, but six of those performances
have come in the last 16 contests. (William & Mary, Drexel, Towson,
Hofstra, Georgia State and George Mason).
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Senior forward Karneshia
Garrett has been a force to be reckoned with on the glass this season as she
enters today's contest ranked 17th in the nation in rebounds per game (11.0).
She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in 16 of 27 games played this season,
highlighted by a 20-rebound effort against Georgia State on Feb. 17. She has
pulled down double-digit boards in nine of the last 12 games, recording a
double-double in each of those contests as she has averaged 11.8 rebounds per
game during that stretch.
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Garrett has also picked up
her point production in recent games, averaging 13.4 points in the Seahawks'
last 14 contests. Garrett is shooting 48.4 percent (80-of-165) from the field
during that stretch as she has reached double figures in all but two of those
14 contests, highlighted by a career-high 22-point effort against Georgia State
on Feb. 17.
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Junior guard Jessica
Freeman leads the team in steals (2.5) and ranks second in scoring (10.4) and
third in assists (2.5). 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.
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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 ranks second in the CAA in minutes played per game (36.4).
Towson Recap
UNCW
completed the home portion of its 2012-13 schedule with a 66-57 setback to
visiting Towson on Wednesday.
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Towson strung together a
11-3 spurt midway through the second half to pull away from UNCW and earn sweep
of the season series. It marked the first time since the 2005 season that the
Tigers had won both games of the season series between the two programs.
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CAA Player-of-the-Week
Tanisha McTiller scored 13 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the
Tigers, who shot 46.0 percent from the floor and held a 38-31 advantage on the
glass.
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Senior guard Tawanna Lee
paced three Seahawks in double figures with 16 points and sophomore guard Kelva
Atkins added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists
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Senior forward Karneshia
Garrett finished with 10 points and 11 boards for her 13th double-double of the
season. It also represented the ninth double-double in 12 games for the Hoover,
Ala., product.
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The Seahawks were out-rebounded for the 21st
time this season and moved to 0-21 on the campaign when grabbing fewer rebounds
than their opponent. UNCW has been out-rebounded in each of its past four
contests
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UNCW shot below 40 percent from the floor for
the 20th time this season and moved to 0-20 when doing so. It marked the fourth
time in five games the Seahawks have shot below 40 percent from the field.
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UNCW shot below 60 percent from the
free-throw line for the 11th time this season as it was 1-of-4 (.250) at the
charity stripe. All four free-throw attempts were taken by sophomore Jovana
Mandic.
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Towson was 14-of-19 (.737) at the free-throw
line during the contest, highlighted by an 11-of-15 effort from the stripe in
the second half.
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The two teams combined to record just 23
turnovers in the contest (Towson 13, UNCW 10).
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UNCW and Towson teamed up to score 48 points
in the paint (Towson 28, UNCW 20).
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The Seahawks recorded double figure assists
for the 19th time this season and the sixth time in seven games as they
finished with 15 assists.
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UNCW put up a school-record 31 3-point field
attempts during the contest, breaking the old mark of 28 set against
Northeastern on Jan. 26, 2012. The Seahawks also matched their season high for
3-pointers made with 10, equaling their total against William & Mary on
Jan. 8.
Scouting Northeastern
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Northeastern (17-11; 10-7 CAA) looks to finish its regular
season with wins in five of its final six contests after posting an 88-81
victory over visiting Hofstra on Wednesday.
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First-Team Preseason All-CAA selection senior Deanna
Kerkhof leads the Huskies in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game to rank seventh
in the league in that category. Kerkhof missed the first game versus the
Seahawks due to injury.
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Senior Kashaia Cannon ranks second on the team in scoring
(13.6) and has been on a tear of late, reaching double figures in six of the
past seven games. Cannon finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting against the
Seahawks on Feb. 24.
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Junior Jewel Tunstall paces Northeastern's effort on the
class, ranking fourth on the circuit in rebounds per game (8.8). Tunstall has
also been a force on the offensive end, averaging 12.7 points per game on the
strength of a league-best .565 field goal percentage.
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The Huskies are coached by Daynia La-Force, who is in her
seventh season with the program. La-Force picked up her 100th collegiate
coaching victory in the Huskies' seven-point triumph over the Pride on
Wednesday.
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Series Notes Versus Northeastern
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Thursday's contest marks the 13th meeting
between Northeastern and UNCW. The two teams have split their previous 12
meetings.
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The Seahawks enter today's contest having won
four of the last five meetings between the two programs. The Huskies were
victorious in their most recent meeting, recording a 67-52 triumph over the
Seahawks on Feb. 24 at Trask Coliseum.
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UNCW has posted a 3-2 record in five previous
visits to Solomon Court. The Seahawks have won each of their last two visits to
Beantown, including a 69-64 victory on Jan. 26, 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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UNCW is 24-2 since the start of the 2010-11
season when reaching the 70-point plateau.
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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.
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UNCW is just 1-6 this season when holding a
halftime advantage. Five of the Seahawks last eight losses have come under such
circumstances.
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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).
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On the flip side, the
Seahawks are just 22-70 (.239) since 2007-08 and just 2-19 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.
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The Seahawks are 2-3 this
season under such circumstances. Three of the Seahawks losses in conference
play have come after UNCW has held a double-digit lead (11 vs. William &
Mary; 12 at Old Dominion and 11 vs. Hofstra).
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The Seahawks have struggled to overcome big
deficits in that same timeframe, posting a 13-75 (.148) 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.
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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.
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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.
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Freeman currently sits in 5th place on the
all-time list with 111 3-pointers made while Lee is tied for seventh place with
97 treys made.
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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 15 3-pointers away from
match Greta Luksyte for fourth place on the all-time list (126).
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Lee, meanwhile, moved into
the top 10 by knocking down four 3-point attempts against Hofstra on Feb. 5.
She begins today's contest tied with Tressa Reese for seventh place on the
all-time list.
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Both players have been consistent from beyond
the arc during their careers, with both players tied for eighth on the squad's
chart for career three-point field goal percentage (.336). Freeman led the
league in three-point field goal percentage in 2011-12 (.414), while Lee is
13th on the circuit this season in that category (.328).
Hail To the Thief
Junior
guard Jessica Freeman is rapidly moving up the program's top 10 list of career
steals leaders.
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Currently in fourth 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.
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Freeman enters today's contest with 195
career steals and is one theft shy of matching Shiela Patterson for third place
on the program's all-time list (196).
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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 third among all league players in that category (2.5).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Gains Entry Onto
Single-season Rebounding List
Senior
Karneshia Garrett enters today's contest in sixth place on the program's single
season rebounding chart.
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Garrett has grabbed 298 rebounds in 28 games
this season. She begins play today eight caroms shy of matching Sharon McDowell
and her 1986-87 total (306) for fifth place on the all-time list.
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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 16 of 27 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.
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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.
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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.
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Garrett opened the week with 15 points and 19
rebounds versus George Mason on Valentine's Day 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 Feb. 17.
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.
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Harris coached current UNCW senior Chelsea
McGowen at Tusculum during the 2009-10 season.
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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.
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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 will be the No. 9 seed for the
2013 CAA Women's Basketball Championship and will open the tournament March 14
with a Noon contest versus No. 8 seed George Mason.
