WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The UNCW women's basketball team opens a two-game road swing Thursday with a 7 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association contest versus James Madison at the JMU Convocation Center.

Seahawk Storylines

• The Seahawks (2-18; 1-8 CAA) make their return to the road following a 75-69 setback to Hofstra Tuesday at Trask Coliseum.
• Senior Tawanna Lee scored a season-high 20 points to pace a UNCW attack that shot 45.9 percent from the floor and established a new season high for points scored, but the Pride used 23 points from sophomore Andreana Thomas and a double-double (16 points & 10 rebounds) from senior Shante Evans to record the six-point victory.
• UNCW has struggled to rebound the basketball this season as it ranks 11th in the CAA and 308th in the NCAA in rebounding margin (-6.6). The Seahawks have been out-rebounded by their opponent in all but four of its 19 games this season and have been out-rebounded by an average of 9.8 boards per game during its current six-game losing skid.
• The Seahawks have made it hard for the opposition to make shots from the field this season as opponents are making just 38.6 percent (479-of-1241) of their tries from the field this season, representing the fourth-best field goal percentage defense in program history. Of UNCW's 20 opponents this season, only seven (Liberty, NKU, North Carolina A&T, William & Mary, Drexel, ODU and Hofstra) 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 268th nationally in field goal percentage, making just 36.8 percent (397-of-1080) of its attempts from the floor this season. The Seahawks have shot better than 40 percent from the floor in just six of 20 games this season, but four of those performances have come in the last eight contests. (William & Mary, Drexel, Towson and Hofstra).
• Senior forward Karneshia Garrett has been a force to be reckoned with on the glass this season as she enters Thursday's contest ranked 30th in the nation in rebounds per game (10.6). She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in 11 of 19 games played this season, highlighted by a pair of 18-rebound performances at Wake Forest (Nov. 14) and against North Carolina Central (Nov. 28). She has pulled down double-digit boards in each of the past four games, recording a double-double in each contest.
• Garrett has also picked up her point production in recent games, averaging 13.7 points in the Seahawks' last seven contests. Garrett is shooting 50.9 percent (40-of-79) from the field during that stretch as she has reached double figures in all seven of those contests, highlighted by a 17-point effort against William & Mary on Jan 31.
• Junior guard Jessica Freeman leads the team in scoring (10.2) and steals (2.7) and ranks third in assists (2.3). Freeman has served as an iron-woman of sorts for the Seahawks, having played all 40 minutes in nine games this season, including eight of the last 11 contests. She ranks second in the league in minutes played per game (36.7).
• Freshman Dana Brown has been in a rhythm offensively in recent games, averaging 12.5 points over the last four contests. Brown has reached double figures in all three of those games, shooting 39.5 percent (15-of-38) from the floor in those games, including 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from three-point range, as well as 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the charity stripe.

Hofstra Recap

UNCW suffered its seventh straight setback as it fell to visiting Hofstra, 75-69, Tuesday at Trask Coliseum.

• Hofstra closed the game on an 11-1 run to erase a four-point deficit and post the six-point victory.
• Sophomore guard Andreana Thomas led four Hofstra players in double figures with a game-high 23 points. Thomas was 5-of-11 from the floor and 11-of-12 at the charity stripe to power a Pride attack that shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the line.
• Senior forward Shante Evans added 16 points and 10 rebounds for her league-leading 12th double-double of the season as the Pride enjoyed a 41-25 advantage on the glass.
• Senior guard Tawanna Lee led four UNCW players in double figures with 20 points as the Seahawks knocked down 28-of-61 (.459) field goal attempts for the game.
• Karneshia Garrett added 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to post her four straight double-double. Freshman guard Dana Brown chipped in 12 points and redshirt junior guard Jessica Freeman added 11 to go along with a career-high nine steals.
• UNCW scored a season-high 69 points in the contest, breaking the previous season high of 61 set on two previous occasions (vs North Carolina Central; at William & Mary).
• UNCW lost its fourth straight contest when holding a lead at halftime as it moved to 1-5 this season and 68-22 since the start of the 2007-08 season when holding an advantage at halftime.
• The Seahawks suffered their second straight loss when holding a double-digit lead as they moved to 2-3 this season and 69-10 since the start of the 2007-08 season when holding a double figure lead during a game.
• UNCW dished out a season-high 17 assists in the contest. Garrett and Freeman led the way for UNCW with four assists each as the Seahawks dished out double figure assists for the sixth straight contest and the 13th time this season
• UNCW shot above 40 percent from the floor for the sixth time this season and the first time in four games. The Seahawks are now 2-4 this season when they shoot 40 percent or better from the field in a game.
• The Seahawks allowed 70 or more points for the sixth time this season and the first since surrendering 74 to Old Dominion on Jan. 17.
• UNCW posted double digit steals for the fifth time this season and second time in three games as it finished with 12 thefts in the contest.
• The Pride held a 20-14 edge in fast-break points, highlighted by a 15-5 edge in the second half.
• Both Lee and Brown reached double figures in points for the fourth straight contest. It is the longest stretch of consecutive double-digit scoring performances for both players this season. Garrett, meanwhile, has scored in double figures in a career-best seven consecutive contests.

Scouting James Madison

• Winners of seven straight and 11 of their last 12, James Madison (14-7; 8-1 CAA) sits in second place in the CAA standings sits in sole possession of second place in the league standings at the midway point of league play, one game back from Delaware and half of a game ahead of Drexel.
• Senior guard Tarik Hislop paces a JMU attack that leads the league in points per game (68.5) as she ranks third in the league in both scoring (16.1) and assists (3.6). Hislop has scored in double figures in all but two of JMU's 21 games this season.
• Junior guard Kirby Burkholder is second on the team in scoring, ranking sixth in the league with a 15.6 points per game average while also guiding the Dukes in rebounding (8.0). Burkholder leads the CAA in free throw percentage, knocking down 63 of 69 tries at the free-throw line this season for a 91.3 percent success rate at the line.
• Reigning CAA Rookie-of-the-Week Precious Hall is averaging 9.0 points per game for the season and 13.9 points in conference play. Hall, who has been recognized as the league's top rookie on four occasions this season, posted a team-high 19 points in the Dukes' 68-63 victory at William & Mary on Sunday.
• Head Coach Kenny Brooks is in his 11th season with the Dukes program. He has led his Alma Mater to 233-101 record in that span with seven postseason appearances, including a runner up finish in the 2012 Postseason WNIT.

Series Notes Versus James Madison

• Thursday's contest marks the 60th meeting between UNCW and James Madison in a series that dates back to the 1984-85 season and early days of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes hold a 50-9 advantage in the all-time series and have won four straight, including a 60-39 victory in their first meeting on Jan. 6 at Trask Coliseum.
• UNC Wilmington's 59 previous contests against James Madison represents the third most matchups against an opponent in program history. In fact, the Dukes are just one of four schools (George Mason (61), William & Mary (60) and East Carolina (54)) that the Seahawks have played on more than 50 occasions during their 40-year history.
• UNCW has posted a 3-25 mark in 28 previous visits to the JMU Convocation Center. The Seahawks have lost to the Dukes in their last three visits to Harrisonburg, including a 63-53 setback in their most recent visit last February. UNCW's last victory in Harrisonburg came in a 68-63 victory on Valentine's Day in 2009.

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 69-8 (.896) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign when it scores 70 or more points in a contest.

• The Seahawks were 10-1 in 2011-12 and are 23-2 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 68-22 (.755) since the start of the 2007-08 season when leading at halftime.

• UNCW is 1-5 this season when holding a halftime advantage. Each of the Seahawks last four losses have come in games that has seen them hold a halftime edge.
• Three of the Seahawks five losses under such circumstances 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) while a fourth such contest featured a four-point intermission advantage (32-28 vs. Hofstra).
• On the flip side, the Seahawks are just 21-64 (.247) since 2007-08 and just 1-13 this season when trailing at intermission. UNCW picked up its first win under such circumstances in 2012-13 with its victory at William & Mary, overcoming a 23-22 halftime deficit to pick up the win.

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. Each of the Seahawks last three losses have come after UNCW has held a double-digit lead in both games (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 an 12-71 (.145) mark during games in which they have trailed by 10 points or more. Nine of those 12 victories, however, have come since the start of the 2010-11 season, including their 61-52 victory at William & Mary on Jan. 8 that saw the Seahawks erase a 14-point deficit in the second half on their way to victory.

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.

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.

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 7th place on the all-time list with 91 three-pointers made while Lee is in 10th place with 84 treys made.
• Freeman surpassed Katy Walters for 10th place on the school's career three-point field goals made list (79) with her three made trifectas in UNCW's game at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 20. Freeman enters tonight's game six 3-pointers away from matching Tressa Reese for sixth place on the all-time list (97).
• Lee, meanwhile, moved into the top 10 by knocking down four 3-point attempts against Hofstra on Feb. 5. She begins tonight's contest tied with Amber Blank for ninth place on the school's career chart.
• Both players have been consistent from beyond the arc during their careers, with Lee sixth (.351) and Freeman 10th (.327) on the squad's chart for career three-point field goal percentage. Freeman led the league in three-point field goal percentage in 2011-12 (.414), while Lee ranks seventh on the circuit this season in that category (.378).

Hail To the Thief

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

• Currently in ninth 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 177 career steals and needs just one theft to catch Cindy Makowski for eighth place on the all-time list (178).
• 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 fourth among all league players in that category (2.7).
• 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

Seahawks Tabbed Seventh, Garrett Preseason Honorable Mention

UNCW was picked to finish seventh overall during the upcoming 2012-13 season and senior forward Karneshia Garrett was a Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA selection.

• The Seahawks and George Mason were selected to finish seventh in a vote of the league's 11 head coaches, ahead of Towson, William & Mary and Georgia State.
• Delaware was picked to repeat as regular-season champion while James Madison was tabbed to finish second. Hofstra was picked third, followed by Drexel, Old Dominion, Northeastern, UNCW and George Mason (tie), Towson and William & Mary (tie) and Georgia State.
• Garrett earned Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA accolades after appearing in 32 games and making 21 starts during her first season with the program in 2011-12. She averaged 9.8 points and 7.5 rebounds while pacing the team with six double-doubles.

Seahawks Announce Signing Class

UNCW head women's basketball coach Adell Harris announced the signing of D'Asia Cain (Smynra, Ga./Campbell), Ryan Flowers (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) and Johanna McMillan (Mullica Hill, N.J./Sanford) to National Letters-of-Intent during the early signing period.

• D'Asia Cain averaged 7.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game during her junior season in helping lead Campbell to a regional championship and State Final Four appearance. She was Named MVP of the Campbell Holiday Classic last season.
• Ryan Flowers Led Millbrook to the 2011-12 Class 4A state championship, earning Most Outstanding Player accolades during the championship game. She averaged 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during junior season and is a Two-time All-Capital 8 selection. Flowers led the Wildcats to Class 4A state runner-up finish as a sophomore and was a 2011 Regional All-Tournament Team selection.
• Johanna McMillan is ranked as a top 100 prospect for her position by ESPN.com. She was an Honorable Mention All-State selection following a junior season that saw her average 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. a Two-time All-Conference selection (First-team 2011-12 and Second-Team 2010-11) she has led Sanford to back-to-back DIAA State Championships (2010 & 11) and a runner-up finish in the 2012 championship. She has also helped the Warriors capture three straight D.I.S.C. titles.

Up Next

UNCW wraps up its two-game road swing Sunday with a 2 p.m. contest at Northeastern.