ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Elizabeth City State University basketball teams will be back in action this week with home dates for the men and women's teams. The women, who are currently on a two game winning streak following wins against Newport News Apprentice and Virginia University of Lynchburg, will face off against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association newcomer Claflin University on Monday night. The men will face off against Claflin on Monday evening and will face off, for a second time this season, against Catawba College on Tuesday evening.
 
THE BASICS
 
Women's Schedule                                                                                        Men's Schedule
WHEN | December 3^rd at 5:30 p.m. v. Claflin                                                  WHEN | December 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. v. Claflin
WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.                                      WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.
 
WHEN | December 4 at 7:30 p.m. v. Catawba
WHERE | R.L. Vaughan Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.
 
LAST TIME OUT – WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
 
ECSU sits at 4-3 after a win on Saturday afternoon against Virginia University of Lynchburg. Freshman guard Angel James had six of her 13 points to ignite a decisive 14-7 ECSU run prior to halftime, helping give the Vikings a 44-28 lead at the break.  James nailed a 3-point jumper with 5:10 left in the half to start the rally and freshman forward Azhante Rodgers capped the outburst with another trey with 1:39 remaining in the period. ECSU limited the visitors to just six points in the third quarter to extend its lead to 61-34.  Freshman guard Asia Deal had five steals and Rodgers, four, as the Vikings collected 20 steals while forcing 42 Dragon turnovers to spell the difference in the contest.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
 
Claflin comes into the contest with a record of 4-4 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play. The Panthers come into the contest on a two game skid as they dropped contests to Virginia State, 52-39, and most recently to Chowan, 85-76 on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers are led offensively by Ashley Fields who is averaging 16 points per game on 54 percent shooting on the year. Two other Panthers average double figure scoring on the year as Dashia Jackson and Deja Dickens pour in 13.1 points per game and 11.4 points per contest respectfully.
 
LAST TIME OUT – MEN'S BASKETBALL
 
ECSU dropped a non-conference matchup to regional and conference rival Chowan University by a score of 79-62 last Wednesday night. The Vikings were led offensively by Shyheid Petteway who scored 20 points for the evening on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Joseph Allen was the only other Viking to score in double figures with 10 for the contest. The Vikings were doomed by challenges shooting in the first half as the Hawks limited ECSU to 37.5 percent shooting. The Vikings were able to rebound in the second half and keep pace offensively with Chowan on 50 percent shooting from the field. ECSU won the turnover battle by forcing Chowan into 14 turnovers and the Vikings turned those 14 turnovers into 20 points.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS AND INDIANS
 
Claflin comes to the Harbor of Hospitality sporting a 2-6 record overall and a 1-2 record in CIAA play. The Vikings and the Panthers share two common opponents as both have dropped games to USC Aiken and Chowan. Claflin visited Murfreesboro on Saturday afternoon and lost to the Hawks 81-79. Danny Brown, who is the leading scorer for Claflin this season (15.9 ppg), contributed 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. Romero Hill and Rodney Pritchard had their best games for the Panthers this season with each pitching in 13 points in the losing effort.
 
Catawba visits the R.L. Vaughan Center with a record of 6-1 and have won three straight since defeating ECSU in Salisbury back on November 17^th. The Indians most recently defeated conference member Tusculum 83-79 on Saturday afternoon. Catawba is being led by four players who score in double figures. Marcell Haskett leads the scoring effort for Catawba by scoring 15.0 points per game. Haskett scored 13 points in 19 minutes of play in the first meeting between the Vikings and Indians back on the 17^th.