Cougars Return Home to Face Spartans
1/14/2011 8:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The College of Charleston women's basketball team returns home after a six-game road trip to take on the Spartans of UNC Greensboro Saturday, Jan. 15 at the Carolina First Arena. The two teams tip off at 4:30, just after the men's basketball game against The Citadel, which begins at 2 p.m.
UNC Greensboro is 19-11 against the College of Charleston, but it is the Cougars that have won the last five out of six games, including a 54-51 decision Jan. 23, 2010, the last meeting between the two.
The Cougars (4-12, 1-6) dropped their seventh game in a row with a 76-67 loss at Wofford this past Thursday. Despite the loss, Janae Smith (Matteson, Ill.) scored a career-high 33 points. It was the first time since the 1997-98 season that a Cougar has scored over 30 points. The last was a 31-point performance by Missy Peterson Feb. 16, 1998. Peterson also shares the Division I record with a 33-point performance against Campbell Feb. 12, 1998.
Two Cougars are averaging in double-figures with Smith leading the way with 11.8 a game. Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) follows with 10.4 a game. Smith also leads the team in rebounds with 6.0 a game.
The UNC Greensboro Spartans (8-7, 5-2) have lost their last two games a row, the most recent a 66-46 decision at Samford Jan. 11. Leading UNCG is Monique Floyd with 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
The Cougars have lost their last seven games in a row. Charleston has not lost eight in a row since dropping its last 10 of the 2006-07 season. During the stretch the Cougars have shot just 31.6 percent and are being outscored by 15.0 points. Despite the record, Charleston is averaging 41.6 rebounds a game and is 70.8 percent from the free throw line.
The Cougars are 26-9 in the Carolina First Arena since it opened in the fall of 2008. Charleston is 2-4 this season.
In the four games won by the Cougars this season, they have shot better (.369-.343). Rebounds are fairly even with Charleston holding a slight 37.8-37.5 advantage. Charleston has just a few less turnovers, 82-89, and a few more steals, 43-34. The games have been tight, with the point differential only 4.3.
Charleston is next in action Wednesday, Jan. 19 against Georgia Southern. Tip-off at the Carolina First Arena is at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information visit www.CofCSports.com or call the ticket office at 843.953.CofC (2362).
