ECU Women’s Basketball Makes Charleston Southern Walk the Plank
Yesterday evening, I had the pleasure of attending the season opener for the East Carolina University women's basketball team. The game unfolded just as I had anticipated from a team eager to reclaim their former glory, especially after clinching the American Athletic Conference Championship in 2023. It was my first visit to Minges Coliseum for a basketball game, and with an excellent view of the court and close proximity to the action, I was able to witness all the pivotal moments firsthand. Various factors influenced the game's momentum tonight, including both positive and negative elements. I will delve into these in detail in my post-game analysis.
Game Recap
The East Carolina Pirates scored first with an offensive rebound by Jayla Hearp, followed by a two-pointer from Synia Johnson. Charleston Southern answered with a layup by Saniya Jones. Two fouls were committed, one by each team, and Madison Adamson broke the scoring drought with a free throw. With under four minutes left in the first quarter, Tyonna Bailey hit a three-pointer, followed by one from Devin Hagemann. After another jumper from Southern and free throws by East Carolina, the first quarter ended 13-10. Missed shots plagued both teams, preventing either from gaining a substantial lead.
In the second quarter, Johnson added 11 points. The defense intensified with steals and turnovers on both sides. After a foul on Taliyah Wyche and a turnover, Amiya Joyner was assessed a technical foul. Hearp blocked a layup attempt by Keshumti Nichols, who managed to score on the rebound. A last-second steal by Shimei Muhammad stopped ECU from scoring more points. ECU had 13 turnovers, but not all resulted in points for CHSO due to missed shots and turnovers.
Joyner began the third quarter with a layup after an offensive rebound. The Pirates pulled ahead by four points, while CHSO increased from 30 to 35 points. Missed layups by ECU and a missed three-pointer by CHSO followed. Khia Miller's rebound and jumper added to ECU's lead, with multiple team members contributing points. Hearp’s free throw attempt near the quarter’s end secured a 55-46 score, leaving CHSO nine points behind with a chance to catch up.
In the final quarter, CHSO closed the gap to seven points, thanks to Catherine Alben. ECU's defense intensified, resulting in five points from a steal by Joyner and a defensive rebound by Wyche. Missed scoring attempts by Charleston Southern and another turnover were followed by a media timeout. Afterward, Joyner’s layup and Hearp’s three-pointer increased ECU’s lead. Bailey hit a three-pointer, followed by several turnovers and steals. Johnson’s steal allowed more points for Hearp, but CHSO continued to fight with a three-pointer from Alben. Despite ongoing turnovers and steals, ECU ended the game with an 81-56 victory.
Final Verdict
Jayla Hearp led the Pirates with an impressive 21 points and seven rebounds. Synia Johnson followed with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Taliyah Wyche came off the bench to score 12 points and grab 10 rebounds. For Charleston Southern, Catherine Alben was the top scorer with 14 points, while Keshumti Nichols and Tyonna Bailey added a combined 20 points. Saniya Jones contributed nine rebounds. Both teams were close in field goal percentages, but CHSO excelled in three-point shooting. ECU struggled, missing ten out of seventeen attempts, which is an area for improvement.
The Pirates will next play on Sunday, November 10th, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, against James Madison University. The teams last met 18 years ago, with ECU losing back-to-back in 2005 and 2006. This will be JMU’s second home game and ECU’s first away game of the season. Both teams have started with wins, and JMU could be 2-0 heading into their match with ECU if they win on Thursday. The Pirates will be eager to end their losing streak against the Dukes and secure a win.
East Carolina had a strong start to their season, demonstrating key traits needed for a championship-winning team. Their teamwork and ability to capitalize on turnovers were highlights, but improving shooting accuracy is essential. Despite their loss, Charleston Southern showed resilience and had moments of solid defense. They need to work on reducing turnovers and improving consistency to rebound in future games. Both teams have areas to improve and strengths to build on as the season progresses.
