ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.- The Elizabeth City State University Women's Basketball team will host the 2019-2020 PSAC/CIAA Challenge in the Vaughan Center on November 8-9^th.

"We are excited as we approach opening night," shared Head Coach Antonio Davis. "The team has put in a tremendous amount of work this pre-season in preparation for the upcoming season. Our schedule is a competitive one that will prepare us for conference play and beyond."
 
The Challenge will feature the Vikings and the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University representing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, while the Golden Knights of Gannon University and The Rocks of Slippery Rock University will represent the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

The Schedule:
Friday, November 8, 2019
Johnson C. Smith University vs. Slippery Rock University at 4 p.m.
Elizabeth City State University vs. Gannon University at 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Johnson C. Smith University vs. Gannon University at 6 p.m.
Elizabeth City State University vs. Slippery Rock University at 8 p.m.

Last Season:
The Vikings ended last season with a 16-16 overall record, 5-12 in conference.
The last time the Vikings took the court, ECSU gave the CIAA a great run in Charlotte, NC as the Vikings made their first trip to the semi-finals since 2010. ECSU entered the tournament as the sixth seed knocking out a third seeded Winston-Salem before pulling off an upset against the number two seed Bowie State playing four games in five days.
 
This Season:
The Vikings will return a solid core with a pair of All-CIAA honorees in Senior Naterria Luster and Sophomore Asia Deal. Luster led the Vikings offensively last season averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Deal took the CIAA by storm.  CIAA All-Rookie Team, All-Tournament Team, and All-CIAA Preseason Team is kind of a big deal! As a Freshman Deal averaged 13 ppg as the third leading scorer for the Vikings averaging 71 percent at the line.
 
"I expect to do more than I did last year to stay on the CIAA's radar," shared Deal. "The past is the past and I want to help my team get a ring."
 
The Vikings have a host of talent in their returners, such as Devona Stell
who was one of the top rebounders in the conference last season.
 
Be prepared to welcome some fresh faces in Viking land that are ready to have an immediate impact on the program. Freshman NyAsia Blango will provide exciting point guard play and transfer Kamille Pickens will provide defensive intensity. Blango scored over 1300 points and was named the Coastal 3-A Conference Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Freshman Monica Dixon averaged 25.2 points and 8.2 rebounds to lead her high school team to a 1A/2A Coastal 8 Conference Championship. She is also a two-time News-Times Player of the Year.
 
Snapshot of November Action:
The Vikings start the season off with a six-game homestand. It will be crucial for the Vikings to protect home territory here at the R.L. Vaughan Center to start the season.

Game Details:
Tune into the game via livestream at https://theciaasn.com/ecsu
Listen to the game via radio broadcast on WRVS-FM 89.9
Follow the game on social media via updates on Twitter @ECSUVikings and Instagram @ecsusports