ORANGEBURG, SC--The South Carolina men's and women's teams will host the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman in a must win for both teams in a pivotal MEAC showdown Saturday. Tip-off for the women's game is 2p.m. with the men following at 4 p.m.
Coach
Doug Robertson, who enters his third season at the helm of the SC State women's basketball program, will take on a very scrappy and well-coached Lady Wildcat team in Bethune-Cookman (9-9 overall, 3-4 MEAC). The Lady Bulldogs enter the contest with a 6-10 overall record and 2-4 mark in the MEAC.
SC State, which will be looking to snap a four-game MEAC losing streak when they face the Lady Wildcats, is led in scoring by senior guard/forward
Whitney Wiley with 10.4 ppg and a team-leading 33 steals. Newcomer and junior forward/center
Fannie Goodwin adds depths in the post with 8.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg, while JUCO transfer
Tracey Flowers and sophomore guard
Trinese Fox each chips in 7.0 points per contest.
The Lady Wildcats are led by Demetria Frank with 15.4 ppg and Jasmine Elum with 14.8 points per contest. Jasmine Daniels adds depth with 10.3, while Sarah Bolden leads the team in rebounding with 6.3 per outing.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (5-14 overall, 1-5 MEAC) of fourth-year head coach
Tim Carter (53-62 overall, 243-214 career 15th season as a head coach, is coming off two tough MEAC defeats to N.C. A&T (74-84 OT) and Norfolk State (61-84).
The Bulldogs, will hope to break a five-game skid and is led senior guard/forward Darnell Porter with 11.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg. JUCO transfer Brandon Riley is second in scoring with 9.3 ppg, while junior forward Omar Sanders add 7.8 ppg and 5.9 rpg.
Bethune-Cookman (11-9 overall, 6-1 MEAC) has three players in double figures with junior point guard C.J. Reed leading the way with 17.6 ppg, Garrius Holloman is second with 11.7 ppg, and 6.2 rebounds per outing. Alexander Starling adds 11.6 and leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 per game.
SC State will return to action on Monday when they host the Rattlers of Florida A&M in an exciting double-header starting at 5:30 p.m. with the women's contest and the men's tip-off following.
- -30--
