WILMINGTON, North Carolina – After starting the month of December with back-to-back road contests, the UNCW women's basketball team can put the suitcases away for Sunday's contest as the Seahawks welcome long-time rival East Carolina to Trask Coliseum for a 2 p.m. non-conference affair.
 
Sunday's game, which marks the Seahawks' lone home outing in December, can be seen online via FloHoops (subscription required) with John Smist and Marianna Pinto providing the commentary. In addition, an audio simulcast will be available in the Wilmington area on 95.9 The Breeze.
 
Fans are encouraged to wear their ugly holiday sweaters to the game in honor of the Seahawks' final game before the Christmas holiday. In addition, Seahawk Sports Marketing will hold its Shoes for Socks promotion where fans can donate a pair of children's shoes in exchange for a free pair of UNCW branded socks.
 
Now 2-6 on the season, UNCW returned from a 15-day break for fall semester exams on Thursday night and dropped a 67-56 verdict at Norfolk State. Graduate student guard Sierra DaCosta authored her seventh double-digit scoring effort in eight games by netting 13 points, while redshirt senior forward Micah Hoggatt added 12 points with eight rebounds, which equaled her career high.
 
DaCosta, a former East Carolina letter winner, continues to anchor the Seahawks' offense with a 13.3 scoring average. Senior guard Carrie Gross follows in second place with an 11.0 clip while pacing the squad with a .479 field goal percentage.
 
East Carolina (5-6) has lost three of its last four contests following a 75-59 setback at North Carolina A&T on Thursday evening. Junior guard Taniyah Thompson, the Pirates' leading scorer, registered her fourth 20-point effort of the season in the loss with a 22-point performance, including a 4-of-9 effort from three-point range.
 
Thompson, a starter in all 11 games, is averaging 15.9 points per game for Coach Kim McNeill's club and has a team-high 17 made three-pointers.
 
Five Facts to Know
Hello Old Friend – Sunday's game marks the 58th all-time meeting between the Seahawks and Pirates. The 57-game series is the fourth-longest in UNCW women's basketball history, only trailing James Madison (77 games), William & Mary (75 games) and George Mason (64 games).      
 
Causing Havoc – UNCW has forced its opponents into committing 76 turnovers in the last three games after Norfolk State had 23 miscues on Thursday night.
 
An Early Birthday Present – UNCW Director of Women's Basketball Operations Keyana Brown will celebrate her birthday on Monday, Dec. 20.     
 
View from the Top – Senior guard Carrie Gross paces the Colonial Athletic Association with a .944 free throw percentage. Gross has also made 14 consecutive free throws after going 2-for-2 on Thursday.     
 
Road Woes – East Carolina has dropped all five of its road games this season after Thursday's loss at North Carolina A&T.   

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