WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The second half of the UNCW women’s basketball team’s four-game homestand begins on Friday night when the Seahawks welcome two-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Elon to Trask Coliseum for a 7 p.m. contest.
Live video coverage of Friday’s game begins at 6:50 p.m. via the Seahawk Digital Network (UNCWSports.com/SDN) with Joe Catenacci and Tom Lamont on the call. A radio broadcast can also be found in Wilmington 95.9 FM The Breeze while live stats will be available at UNCWStats.com.
Now 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the CAA, the Seahawks enter this weekend’s action tied with Towson for third place in the CAA standings after posting a pair of victories over Hofstra and Northeastern last week. UNCW throttled the Pride on Friday night by an 89-54 margin before handing the Huskies an 83-70 setback on Sunday afternoon.
Redshirt junior guard GiGi Smith paced the Seahawks in the two victories last week, averaging 19.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while making 15-of-31 field goal attempts. Smith authored her fifth 20-point game in the victory over Northeastern, making 8-of-17 shots from the floor, including a 3-for-5 showing from three-point range.
Elon, which has lost six games in a row, brings a 7-13 overall record and a 2-7 CAA mark into Friday’s tilt with the Seahawks. The Phoenix lost by a 59-44 count against Drexel on Friday night before dropping a 74-63 verdict against Delaware on Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore forward Emily Maupin leads a trio of Phoenix players averaging double figures by scoring 12.6 points per game. The Charlottesville, Va., product is also shooting 50.2 percent from the field and grabbing 6.5 rebounds per outing. In the first meeting with the Seahawks on Jan. 13, she netted a career-high 26 points and added 11 rebounds.
Friday’s Starting Five
Going for the Sweep – UNCW aims to sweep the regular season series from the Phoenix for the first time since 2014-15 on Friday night. The Seahawks ended a seven-game losing streak to Elon with the Jan. 13 victory.
10 Count – The Seahawks have won 10 or more home games for the first time since 2011-12 when they put together an 11-7 record. It is the 11th time UNCW has won at least 10 home games in a single season.
View From the Top – Since the start of CAA play, the Seahawks have shot a league-best 44.8 percent from the field. In addition, senior center Chinyere Bell leads the CAA with a .659 field goal percentage during that span.
Helping Hands – UNCW matched a season high with 19 assists in last Sunday’s win over Northeastern, equaling the 19 assists against Charleston on Jan. 4.
Making Them Count – The Seahawks have converted 56.0 percent of their field goal attempts over the last two games, including a season-best 57.1 percent against Northeastern on Sunday.
Up Next: UNCW wraps up its four-game homestand on Sunday, Feb. 10, with a visit from William & Mary at 2 p.m.
