Lady Pirates to Visit VCU

East Carolina looks to get above .500 with a win in Richmond

After playing five of their first six games in the friendly confines of Williams Arena-Minges Coliseum, the East Carolina women's basketball team will now begin a stretch during which it will play six of seven games away from home.

The Lady Pirates (3-3) are coming off their best effort of the young season--a 97-83 victory over UMASS. They knocked down a program-record 13 three-pointers and had an excellent assist to turnover ratio of 28 to nine. Five ECU players scored in double figures in that contest. Guard Allison Spivey finished with 16 points after hitting four trifectas. Fellow backcourt member Ashley Clarke had 15 points and a team-high eight assists.

East Carolina, which is now averaging 80 points per game under first-year coach Heather Macy, won 80-76 at Western Carolina in its only road game to date. Macy's system involves playing as many players as possible to stay fresh and boost an up-tempo, aggressive style of play. The Lady Pirates' production reflects that system's effectiveness, as ECU is forcing 26 turnovers per game and collecting 14.7 steals. Six players are averaging 7.8 points or more. Ashley Clarke leads the team with her 12.5 points mark, but she also pulls down 4.5 rebounds, dishes out over four assists and collects four steals per game. Kim Gay is also scoring in double figures with her 12.3 average while also pulling down just over six rebounds. Allison Spivey, who averages 8.5 points, is the team's top three-point shooter with 12 trifectas.

VCU (2-1) started the season with two wins before dropping a two-point decision at Virginia Tech the last time out. The Lady Rams won their season opener by one at High Point before returning home to collect a ten-point victory over Winthrop. They are producing 61.7 points per game and giving up 58.6. VCU has struggled shooting the basketball, as they are just 38.4 percent from the floor and 27.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Rams also just convert from 62.5 of their attempts from the charity stripe.

Junior forward Courtney Hurt, who was a third-team All-CAA performer last season, is delivering a double-double per game. Hurt, who averages 23.7 points and 12 boards, is also sharing the basketball well as she produces 6.3 assists per game. The Lady Rams top three-point shooter to date has been Jacqueline Brewer. Brewer, who has hit six three's, is posting 10.7 points.

Prediction

The Lady Pirates need to show improvement on the boards and from the charity stripe, but they seem to be adjusting nicely to the new style being implemented by first-year coach Heather Macy. They will likely have too much offense for a VCU team that has struggled shooting the ball through three games. Also, ECU appears to have the depth advantage.

East Carolina 79 VCU 69