Streaking Firebirds Battle Bridgeport in East Coast Conference Season Opener Saturday

2012-13 University of the District of Columbia Women's Basketball Game Notes

District of Columbia (4-3, 0-0 ECC) at Bridgeport (5-2, 0-1 ECC)

Saturday, December 8^th – Hubbell Gym (Bridgeport, CT)

Opening Tip-Off

The Firebirds open East Coast Conference play Saturday, December 8th on the road against Bridgeport. Tip-off at Hubbell Gym is at 1 p.m. Follow Live Stats and Live Video courtesy of Bridgeport.

Updating the Firebirds

District of Columbia (4-3, 0-0 ECC) has won four of its last five games, including its last three, as the Firebirds get set to battle with the Purple Knights on Saturday. Senior guard Janelle Junior (Administration of Justice – Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) and sophomore guard Denikka Brent (Mechanical Engineering – Chesapeake, VA/Booker T. Washington HS) have been a dynamic one-two scoring punch for the Firebirds this season. Junior, who is coming off of a 20-point effort at Bowie State last week, is averaging 15.3 points per-game and shooting over 53-percent from the field and an ECC-4^th best, 41.5-percent from three-point range. Brent, who added 19 in District of Columbia's 60-40 win at Bowie State, is averaging 13.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per-game this season.

Scouting Bridgeport

The Purple Knights (5-2, 0-1 ECC) won their first five games of the season but have since dropped their last two, including their ECC opener at LIU Post on December 1^st by a score of 73-68. They are led by their six-foot senior forward/center and preseason ECC Player of the Year, Tanisha Carter, who is currently 3^rd in the ECC in scoring with 17.7 points per-game. Graduate swing player Priscilla Dodoo, at 5-foot-11, is also having a stellar season, ranking 4^th in the ECC in scoring with 16.3 ppg and 3^rd in the league in rebounding with 9.7 rpg.

The Matchup

Saturday's game at Hubbell Gym pits the Firebirds, 3-0 on the road this season, against the Purple Knights who are 3-0 on their home floor thus far. District of Columbia was picked to finish 3^rd in the ECC Pre-Season Coaches' Poll with Bridgeport following close behind at 4^th. The Purple Knights will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid while the Firebirds will look to extend their three-game winning streak.

The Series

District of Columbia swept the season series last year, dealing Bridgeport a 51-44 loss at Hubbell Gym on January 14^th, 2012 and then cruising to a lopsided, 78-56 victory at home on February 18^th. Tanisha Carter registered game-highs of 25 points and 10 rebounds in that last meeting back in February, but that was not enough to make up for the Purple Knights' 24-percent field goal shooting and 24 turnovers. Julissa Anderson and Denikka Brent gave the Firebirds a big lift off the bench that day with 15 points apiece, with Anderson making 5-of-5 from long-range.