By Staff
ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — The East Carolina women’s basketball team continued its great success at Minges Coliseum Thursday night, debunking UTEP’s attempt to break its home winning streak with a critical come-from-behind 64-54 victory.
“I was extremely unhappy with our intensity in the first half,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “We came out flat and were just horrible. However I really got into them at the break and the second half was the best we have played all season. Now we have to get ready for a tough Tulane team which I think is the best in the league.
“I hope our fans understand how important they are to us. We will need to make it hard on Tulane this Saturday as we try to get 5,000 people in here. Our crowd has supported us wonderfully all year.”
With the triumph, ECU (18-6, 7-4) won its school record 12th-straight home game and has won 24 of its last 26 at Minges. The Lady Pirates also surpassed last year’s regular-season total of 17 wins and 18 are now the most in the Baldwin-Tener era.
Chareya Smith tied her career high with 14 points while pulling down seven rebounds. Jean Best and Kelly Smith each scored 10.
ECU continues its three-game homestand Saturday, Feb. 13, welcoming league-leading Tulane to Minges Coliseum for a 1 p.m. start. The Lady Pirates will host the “Drive for Five” in an attempt to draw 5,000 fans and break the program’s attendance record. Fans can gain free admission if they wear pink, are 18 years old or younger, show a valid military ID or have a valid ECU student OneCard. A social with free pizza and drinks will be held for those students at Harvey Hall inside the Murphy Center at 12 noon.