WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW women's basketball travels to Charleston on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the penultimate road game of the regular season. The Seahawks will look to avenge a 64-61 home loss to the Cougars on Feb. 16. With a win, UNCW will record its 200th road victory in program history.
UNCW led by 10 at the half but fell to league-leading North Carolina A&T in a heartbreaker, 67-64, in Coastal Athletic Association action in Trask Coliseum on Friday night. Four Seahawks reached double figures as Taylor Henderson registered her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Evan Miller had 13 points and five rebounds, and Jania Hall added 11.
Ali Zelaya nearly recorded the third triple-double in program history and the first since 1987. Zelaya tallied 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks against the Aggies, tying for the third-most blocks in a game all-time by a UNCW player, the most in a game since 2011.
Zelaya leads the team with 12.3 points per game. The 6'4 forward is the CAA leader in blocks (73), blocks per game (2.61), rebounds (252), and defensive rebounds per game (7.4). She has scored at least 10 points per game over her last 13 games. Zelaya averages 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game during that stretch. Zelaya was one of five players named Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week on Feb. 4 by the USBWA, following two electrifying double-doubles in wins against Hofstra and Stony Brook. Zelaya needs five blocks to set the new UNCW single-season record held by Ioulia Boxley (77, 1999-00).
Zelaya is seventh in the nation in blocks (73) and blocks per game (2.61), 16th in defensive rebounds per game (7.4), and 55th in rebounds (252).
GAME COVERAGE
• UNCW (13-15, 7-8 CAA) at Charleston (20-6, 11-4 CAA)
• Live Stream: FloCollege
• Live Stats: UNCWSports.com/coverage
SERIES INFO
The Seahawks lead the all-time series, 20-18. Charleston has won five of the last six meetings, including earlier this season in comeback fashion, 64-61.
LAST MEETING VS. CHARLESTON
After having an early 10-point lead, Charleston erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit and finished the game on a 14-2 run over the last four and a half minutes to stun UNCW on Senior Day, 64-61. Four Seahawks reached double figures. Zelaya recorded her eighth double of the season with 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks. Henderson and McCall King each tallied 12, and Kate Hollifield finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Lara Rohkohl led the Cougars with 14 points and 19 rebounds. McKinley Brooks-Sumpter also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Five players scored in double figures for the Cougars. Charleston outrebounded UNCW 53-29 in the game, including 31-8 in offensive boards.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The Cougars defeated Elon 91-51 at home on Friday night for their fifth straight victory and 20th win of the season. Charleston improved to 11-2 at home during the 2024-25 campaign. The Cougars' last loss at home was Jan. 17 against Monmouth. Against Elon, Five Cougars reached double figures. Taryn Barbot scored a game-high 21 points. Barbot leads the team and is sixth in the CAA with 15 points per game. Her twin sister Taylor is second on the team with 11.9 points per game. Lara Rohkohl nearly averages a double-double with 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
UNCW hosts Hampton in the final home game of the season on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Trask Coliseum. UNCW defeated Hampton, 66-50, on Jan. 26.
