ORANGEBURG,SC—The South Carolina State women's and men's basketball teams will be in action  in an exciting doubleheader against NC Central Saturday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tip-off for the men's game is 2 p.m. with the women's game following immediately.

      Coach Doug Robertson enters his third season at the helm of the SC State women's basketball program. The Lady Bulldogs enter the contest with a 1-3 overall record and have been bothered by injuries since the season begin. In their last outing SC State dropped a tough 44-66 defeat to Clemson University.

      The Lady Bulldogs is led in scoring by senior guard/forward Whitney Wiley with 10.8 ppg and leads the team in steals with 11. Junior forward Joi Walker adds depths in the post with 6.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg, while JUCO transfer Tracey Flowers chips in 6.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.

      Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (3-3) who are coached by Tim Carter (51-51 overall, 241-203 career 15th season as a head coach) in his fourth season at the helm is coming off an impressive 68-56 victory over Allen University on last week. NC Central enters the contest with a 3-3 overall record and a two-game winning streak with victories over Allen University (96-81) and Washington Adventist (62-56) on last week.

      SC State is led in scoring by senior guard/forward Darnell Porter with 10.7 ppg and 4.2 rpg. JUCO transfer Brandon Riley is second in scoring with 10 ppg, while senior forward Rio Pitt adds 8.0 ppg and 6.2 rpg. NC Central has three players in double figures with junior guard Landon Clement and senior guard C.J. Wilkerson both with 16.8 ppg and junior forward Nick Chasten with 10.2 and 8.0 rebounds per contest.

      SC State will return to action on Tuesday when they host Voorhees College in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off, while the Lady Bulldogs will return to action on Dec. 13 against the visiting Lady Cobras of Coker College in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

                                                                                      --30--