Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop Women's Basketball will travel to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. Both teams enter the contest 0-1 on the season, looking for their first win.
WINTHROP (0-1, 0-0 Big South Conference)
SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles and Lady Bulldogs have met 22 times in history, 15 times in the DI-era. South Carolina State currently leads the all-time series, 15-7 overall, 9-6 playing Division I. The last time these teams met, Winthrop won the contest, 58-50, on the road on Dec. 1, 2018. The Eagles had two players finish in double-figures, senior
Essence Cowan who had 17 points, and junior
Miquela Santoro who contributed 11 points of her own. Jakayvea Akins led the way offensively for the Bulldogs, scoring 14 points. In their last eight meetings, these teams have split the series, 4-4.
WINTHROP EAGLES
The Eagles dropped their season opener to Wofford on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 65-50. Despite the loss, sophomore
Myra Strickland was impressive on floor. After strating the contest 0-9, the sophomore went on to recorded a career-high 24 points, shooting 40 percent from the field. Strickland sparked a 12-2 run for the Eagles to cut the Terriers lead to just four points to open the second half. Wofford led by as many as 17 points before winning the contest by 15. Sierra and
Sydney Hunter recorded eight and seven rebounds respectively, career bests for the sisters. Sierra also led the team with three assists.
Jaelyn Royal and
Madison Ervin started Wednesday's contest, each contributing offensively in their Winthrop debut.
Antoaneta Alexe and
J'Mani Ingram also saw playing time in their first game as Eagles. Niyah Lutz led the Terriers with 17 points.
NEW LEADER AT THE HELM
Semeka Randall Lay has taken over the Winthrop women's basketball program after serving as Associate Head Coach last season. Randall Lay in a 2000 graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she was an integral part of Tennessee's 1998 NCAA Championship team that went 39-0, averaging 15.9 points a game while earning honorable mention All-America recognition. She was drafted 17th overall in the 2001 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm and spent four years in the league. Randall Lay brings eight years of head coaching experience with an overall career record of 67-176.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BULLDOGS
The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 3-24 overall 2019-20 season and were projected to finish fourth in the Southern Division of the MEAC Preseason Poll. Senior Heniaya Moton was named to the MEAC Preseason Second Team. Moton appeared in 29 contests, starting 28 and averaged 12.9 points per game. She led the team in field goals, 3-pointers and free throws made. The Lady Bulldogs are led by Audra Smith, who is in her second year at the helm of the SC State women's basketball program, after five seasons at Clemson. South Carolina State opened their 2020-21 campaign at Coastal Carolina, where they dropped the contest, 88-56. Moton led with 28 points. Due to COVID-19 and injuries, Smith only had eight players dressed for this contest. The Lady Bulldogs fell behind early, being held to just nine first quarter points and were unable to recover.
