WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The UNCW women's basketball team continues a three-game homestand as it entertains North Carolina A&T in an 11:30 matinee Thursday at Trask Coliseum.

Seahawk Storylines

The Seahawks (1-9) will look to snap a six-game losing skid on Thursday after closing out December with a 53-42 setback to former CAA foe Richmond Sunday at Trask Coliseum.   

• Thursday's game will serve as the sixth installment of the popular "Seahawks Tomorrow" program, which brings local elementary-school students to the UNCW campus for a day of activities. The Seahawks are 5-0 in their previous "Seahawk Tomorrow" contests, including a 60-53 victory over Northeastern in last season's contest on Jan. 5, 2012.
• UNCW squares off against an in-state opponent for the fifth time this season its matchup against North Carolina A&T on Thursday. The Seahawks have enjoyed moderate success against competition from the Tar Heel State in recent years, compiling a 16-12 mark against in-state foes since the start of the 2007-08 season. UNCW is 1-3 against in-state competition this season with a win against North Carolina Central (59-45) and losses to Charlotte (63-58), Elon (67-61) and Wake Forest (60-59).
• UNCW is off to a 1-9 start for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign, when it started the season with losses in 10 of its first 11 games.
• The Seahawks are in the midst of a six-game losing skid, its longest stretch between wins since a nine-game slide during the 2006-07 season (Feb. 4 - March 3).
• The UNCW women's basketball program is in its 40th season of competition and has compiled an all-time record of 458-570 (.446). The Seahawks have recorded four 20-wins seasons (1983-84, 2002-03, 2010-11, 2011-12) and made two postseason appearances (WNIT: 2011 & 2012) in that span.
• Senior Karneshia Garrett has been a force to be reckoned with on the glass during the early part of the season as she enters Thursday's contest ranked 7th in the nation in rebounds per game (12.1). Garrett has grabbed double-digit rebounds in six of nine games played this season, highlighted by a pair of 18-rebound performances at Wake Forest (Nov. 14) and against North Carolina Central (Nov. 28).
• Sophomore transfer Kelva Atkins leads the Seahawks in scoring (10.9). Atkins, who ranks 11th in the CAA in field goal percentage (.452), has scored in double figures in five of the last seven games, including a season-high 20 points in UNCW's matchup with Charlotte on Dec. 5.
• The Seahawks will wrap up a challenging non-conference slate today as seven of their 11 non-league opponents in 2012-13 qualified for postseason competition last season, including NCAA Tournament participants Liberty, Northern Kentucky and West Virginia. In addition, nine of those teams won 15 or more contests, with six of those squads - Liberty, Northern Kentucky, Richmond, Tulane, Wake Forest and West Virginia - all reaching the 20-win milestone.

Richmond Recap

UNCW opened a three-game homestand Sunday with a 53-42 loss to former Colonial Athletic Association foe Richmond at Trask Coliseum.

• Richmond shook off a slow start and overcame a season-low 32.2 percent shooting to record the 11-point victory. In a rematch of a 2011 Postseason WNIT first-round contest, Richmond shot 26.5 percent in the first 20 minutes and forged out to a 23-16 lead before extending the margin to as many as 14 points after the break.
• UNCW dressed just nine players - played only six - and its third leading scorer and top rebounder, Karneshia Garrett, was sidelined with an ankle injury. Three players - junior Jessica Freeman, sophomore Kelva Atkins and freshman Dana Brown - played all 40 minutes for the Seahawks.
• The Seahawks shot below 40 percent from the field for the fifth straight contest as they ended the game just 17-of-55 (.309) from the floor.
• The two team combined to shoot just 10-of-37 from three-point range as Richmond was 7-of-25 (.280) from beyond the arc while UNCW was just 3-of-12 (.333) from downtown.
• The Seahawks were a season-low 5-of-13 (.385) at the free-throw line.
• Freeman led the Seahawks with 12 points as she reached double figures in points for the fifth time in seven games.
• Sophomore Kelva Atkins joined freeman in double figures as she finished with 11 points, reaching double figures for the fifth time in seven contests.
• Senior Chelsea McGowen pulled down double-figure rebounds for the second time this season and the fourth time in her career as she grabbed a team-high 11 boards.

Scouting North Carolina A&T

• North Carolina A&T (7-5) makes its way to the Port City winners of four of its last six contests following a 75-65 victory over visiting Elon on New Year's Eve.
• JaQuayla Berry has served as the focal point of the Aggies lineup, pacing the squad in scoring (12.3), rebounding (6.6) and steals (2.2) in the early going.
• Amber Calvin ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game to give the Aggies a second double-figure scoring threat. Calvin has been the squad's top marksman from three-point range, knocking down more than 50 percent (22-of-42) of her attempts from beyond the arc.
• Adriana Nazario serves as the squad's top playmaker, dishing out 35 assists through the first 12 games of the season.
• Tarrell Robinson is in his first season as head coach of the Aggies. A graduate of North Carolina A&T, Robinson returned to his Alma Mater after three seasons as an assistant coach under Beth Cunningham at VCU.

Series History Versus North Carolina A&T

Thursday's game marks the 24th meeting between state rivals UNCW and North Carolina A&T, but just the second matchup since the 1995-96 season.

• The Seahawks expanded their lead in the all-time series to 14-9 last season with a 90-63 victory in Greensboro on Jan. 2.

UNCW Versus North Carolina A&T At Home

UNCW holds a 7-3 mark at Trask Coliseum against North Carolina A&T.

• The Seahawks bring a seven-game home winning streak into Thursday's matchup with the Aggies.
• UNCW's last home loss to the Greensboro based school come in a 77-45 setback on Jan. 17, 1980.

UNCW Against The MEAC

UNCW holds a combined 34-17 mark against members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

• UNCW holds winning records against seven of the 13 members in the conference, while it has losing records to just two league schools (Morgan State and Maryland-Eastern Shore) by identical 0-1 margins.
• The Seahawks last loss against a MEAC institution came in a 66-52 loss at Hampton on Nov. 22, 2009.
• UNCW is 1-0 this season against MEAC competition, defeating North Carolina Central, 59-45, at Trask Coliseum on Nov. 28.

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 68-18 (.791) since the start of the 2007-08 season when leading at halftime.

• UNCW is 1-1 this season when holding a halftime advantage. The Seahawks one loss under such circumstances came in a 63-58 setback to Charlotte on Dec. 5, a game in which they led the 49ers, 25-24, at the break.
• On the flip side, the Seahawks are just 20-59 (.253) since 2007-08 when trailing at intermission. UNCW has lost all seven games in which it has been behind at halftime this season.

Double-Digit Dominance

UNCW has benefitted from building big leads in recent years as it is a combined 68-5 (.931) since the start of the 2007-08 season when it holds a lead of 10 points or more during a contest.

• The Seahawks are 1-0 this season under such circumstances. The last time UNCW lost a game in which it led by 10 points or more came in a 63-54 setback to Eastern Michigan in the second round of the Postseason WNIT on March 21, 2011. In that game, the Seahawks lead by as many as 13 before falling by nine to the Eagles.
• The Seahawks have struggled to overcome big deficits in that same timeframe, posting an 11-67 (.141) mark during games in which they have trailed by 10 points or more. Eight of those 11 victories, however, have come since the start of the 2010-11 season.

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 10th place on the all-time list with 80 three-pointers made while Lee is 15th with 62 triples converted in her career.
• 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 today's game needing just three more three-pointers made to catch former teammate Treasure Johnson for ninth place (83).
• Both players have been consistent from beyond the arc during their careers, with Lee sixth (.343) and Freeman seventh (.340) on the squad's chart for career three-point field goal percentage (.341). Freeman led the league in three-point field goal percentage last season (.414), while Lee was second on the squad (.336) in that category.

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.

Up Next

The Seahawks open Colonial Athletic Association play Sunday with a 2 p.m. contest versus James Madison.