Shake Smart opens at ECU Student Center
Shake Smart is the newest restaurant at the Main Campus Student Center, focused on healthy food options.
Abby Steward, director of business operations at Shake Smart, said the company was founded by two college students and now operates in about 55 universities across the United States.
“It's been very busy,” Steward said. “Students seem to be loving it, so we're excited to be here.”
While Shake Smart specializes in protein shakes, Steward said, they also have other healthy to-go options such as acai bowls, oatmeal yogurt, whole wheat wraps, avocado toast and more.
Gabby Heath, a communications major at East Carolina University, said the student center has plenty of fast food options and the school needed healthier choices.
“I think with this place opening, it’ll influence a lot of other students to eat healthier,” Heath said. “Students care so it's important to give them healthy options.”
According to the Shake Smart website, they offer vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free drinks and food made with real fruits and vegetables.
The restaurant also has a sustainability initiative using biodegradable spoons, containers and straws. Their cups and bowls are also made from recycled materials.
“We’ve been needing better ingredients,” Heath said. “I think Shake Smart is a company that a lot of students can get behind because they have a lot of great things going on.”
Jess Gee, an inerpersonal and organizational communication major at ECU, said the restaurant is beneficial for people like her who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where consuming gluten causes various digestive and systemic symptoms.
Gee said the student center does not have a lot of dining options for students with dietary restrictions. She said having Shake Smart provides more choices for these students and offers an alternative to the fast food dining spot.
“Sometimes fast food can feel like the only option when you're in between classes,” Gee said, “This is fast food but healthy so it works out.”
Jasmine Berry, a biochemistry major at ECU, said she used the Grubhub app to order her carrot cake shake and matcha protein ball. She said while there was a bit of a wait, she enjoyed her meal.
Berry said she normally goes to Starbucks but decided to try Shake Smart out because she saw the drinks have less sugar than Starbucks. She said it’s also a great option for people coming out of the gym who don’t want anything heavy.
“If you're in between meals and need a little something,” Berry said, “it’s a great option to hold you over till dinner.”
TheEast
ECU hosted the 29th annual Polar Plunge event on Thursday, Jan. 30, where hundreds of students. At the event, students jumped into the Eakin Student Recreation Center’s outdoor pool in 55-degree weather.
Although the number of students this year was less than in previous years, this did not prevent the event from being memorable.
The event included many clubs and organizations from ECU, such as clubs, club sports, fraternities, sororities, and along with activities such as trivia and athletic challenges.
Associate director of leadership & programs of the student recreation center Justin Waters would describe the event as “a celebration of the opening of this facility” in 1997.
“I think what drives folks is a sense of belonging,” Waters said when describing the reasoning for students to take the plunge. This is a great opportunity to go do something adventurous that you normally would not do outside of college,” Watters continued.
Watters would reveal that next year’s Polar Plunge event will be the last one. “We do plan on retiring the Polar Bear Plunge next year,” Watters revealed. “We are in an aging facility, and there are a lot of different needs and costs to maintain a 30-year-old outdoor pool,” Waters said.
“We are looking to identify that space here at the rec center and hope to repur-
pose it,” Waters said.
Students would reflect on their memories with the Polar Plunge event ending next year. Junior marketing major Vanessa Garcia said that before she took the plunge during her freshman year, she was “nervous and excited because of how cold it was.” I was glad I did it because I did it with my friends,” Garcia continued.
Garcia would describe it as “one of the best experiences I had and will be a memory that will live with me after college.”
“I had fun," said freshman political science and business management major Rilie Anderson. “I would do it again right now,” they continued after taking the plunge.
After taking the plunge, freshman supply chain management major Michael Fullerton said, “It was a great way to begin my first spring semester here at ECU.”
The East Carolina Women’s Basketball team (11-11, 3-7 American Athletic Conference) traveled to Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday to take on the Memphis Tigers (5-15, 3-6 AAC) where they fell 75-69. Memphis sophomore guard Tanyuel Welch led all scorers with 21 points shooting 7-9 from the field. Graduate Forward Anzhané Hutton had 20 points of her own for ECU while shooting 70% from the field.
East Carolina won the jump ball and were able to get on the board first with a layup by Hutton. Both teams started off hot and were able to score 21 points each heading into the second quarter. Hutton would get the scoring going again in the second to give the lady pirates a 2 point lead.
A layup by Hutton at the eight minute
mark would give ECU a 27-23 lead. The teams then started to go cold as there wasn’t another point scored until there was 5 and a half minutes remaining in the half which was a layup by Memphis graduate forward Alasia Smith to make it a two
point game. The teams would trade blows back and forth until the buzzer sounded with the lady pirates holding a one point lead 33-32.
PEL LAW I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Students at the new Shake Smart in the student center.
Pel Law TEC STAFF
BECCA ERZEN I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
ECU hosted Polar Plunge where students jump into the pool at the Eakin Recreation Center.
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES
Freshman guard No. 7 Devin Hagemann sets up the pirates offense vs. Memphis University.
BRIEFS
StoryWalks merge fun, fitness with reading Families gathered at Wildwood park on Jan. 18 for the launch of StoryWalks, an initiative that combines outdoor activity with reading. The project is led by East Carolina University’s Academic Library Services and was in partnerships with local libraries and Greenville Recreation and Parks. It features story panels along walking trails at Wildwood and Greensprings Park.
During the event, children and parents followed the story “Bear
“Gulf of Mexico” switch to “Gulf of America”
and Parks plans to integrate more StoryWalks into future community events, leading to more literacy and engagement opportunities.
ECU Excels celebrates freshman, transfer students
ECU celebrated freshmen and transfer students who earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their first semester during the ECU Excels event at the Main Campus Student Center. Students participated in a scavenger hunt and connected with mentors who played a role in their success.
Many of the attendees and students credited advisors such as Michelle Blount, a GEAR UP success coach, for offering guidance academically and personally. Faculty members encouraged students to communicate with their professors and emphasized the importance of building relationships to manage their way through college smoothly.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
In his Inaugural Address, President Donald Trump announced that he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”.
“We are going to be changing the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.”” said Trump. “We do most of the work there and it’s ours” Trump continued, citing the reason for the name change.
On Friday, Jan. 24, The Interior Department announced “In accordance with Donald J. Trump’s recent executive order, the Department of the Interior is proud to announce the implementation of name restorations that honor the legacy of American greatness, with efforts already underway.”
“These changes reaffirm the nation’s commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring the future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets” the Interior Department continued.
The Interior Department also announced that it is working to “update the official federal nomenclature” in the Geographic Names Information System.
With the U.S. and Mexico being a part of The International Hydrographic Organization, each country can name any landmark or body of water their own distinct name if they so
please to. This means that only the U.S. can recognize it as the “Gulf of America” if the renaming happens.
On Monday, Google announced on X that they are going along with the name change and the new name for the sea basin will be seen on Google Maps. The name change however will only be seen by people in the U.S.
The Gulf of Mexico is not the only landmark that Trump wants to change the name of. Trump has stated that he wants to rename the highest peak in North America, Mt. Denali,
to its previous name Mt. McKinley. A name change that was made in 2015, during former President Barack Obama’s second term.
According to APNews, a member of the Mississippi Legislature tried to change the name of the sea basin to “The Gulf of America” in 2012. The bill was referred to a committee but it did not pass. The bill’s author would later call the bill a “joke.”
The first volleys in the latest U.S.-China trade war made clear that Xi Jinping is taking a more cautious approach than during Donald Trump’s first term.
After the U.S. leader gave a last-minute reprieve to both Canada and Mexico, his 10% tariffs on China took effect after midnight Washington time on Tuesday. Within seconds, Beijing announced additional tariffs on roughly 80 products to take effect on Feb 10., launched an antitrust investigation into Google, tightened export controls on critical minerals, and added two U.S. companies to its blacklist of unreliable entities.
The swift but calculated retaliation signaled that Beijing had learned a lesson from its first trade fight with Trump, when China retaliated with tariffs on par or close to what the U.S. imposed. This time Xi only put tariffs on $14 billion worth of American products, a sliver of what Trump targeted, while taking other measures that showed off China’s ability to inflict further pain on U.S. companies if needed.
The shift reflects both Xi’s success at diversifying imports away from the U.S.since Trump’s first term, as well as China’s more
precarious economic situation. The Chinese leader has been relying on manufacturing and overseas sales to keep growth ticking along as he moves to burst a property bubble, all while dealing with increased deflationary pressure.
China is being restrained because it “has more to lose,” due to its huge trade imbalance with the U.S., according to Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Group Ltd.
“A full-blown tariff war is not in China’s interest,” he added. “Instead, China is likely to respond to tariffs mainly through domestic stimulus.”
The Chinese leader’s cautious reply avoided roiling markets, which have been whipsawed in the past week by Trump’s tariff twists and turns. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong rebounded to gain 3.5% on Tuesday, while the offshore yuan was little changed after paring earlier losses.
The question now is whether leaders of the world’s biggest economies can quickly reach an agreement before Chinese tariffs kick in. Trump said on Monday he will seek a deal with China.
OUR VIEW
DEI Removal Setting America Back in Equality
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that the DEI removal by President Donald Trump sets America back on its mission of equality. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs were created to ensure fair opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their race, gender, or background. By taking away these programs, the Trump administration is ignoring the barriers that negatively impacted marginalized communities from a variety of opportunities including education, employment, and housing. Some would argue that DEI only furthers division and prioritizes some groups over others. However, no one can deny the progress that has been made by these efforts. Even creating institutions aimed at addressing DEI proves that people are at least acknowledging the issue and attempting to solve it. Even at ECU, DEI has fostered inclusive environments and provided many pathways for students to succeed. Eliminating DEI sends a message about whose voices are values in America. These programs were designed to create a level playing field for all. Without them, people may struggle to gain access to the same opportunities as others. Years of work has been undone with these policy removals. Removing DEI measures does not make things more fair. As students and people, we recognize that America promises a land of opportunity and justice for all. With these rescinded
PIRATE RANTS
Parking on the west end of campus is BAD! several art students don’t have a good way to find parking near Jenkins art building. We need a commuter lot or something nearby.
The ECU Food and Wine Festival is a vital event that combines fun with purpose. It supports hospitality students.
It’s a great opportunity, why miss it ?? Get your ticket , see you there
Food and wine festival is great not only for their found but also for their practical experiences. It’s an opportunity to make them growth and provide scholarships for students in the hospitality program. It’s time to burst this event up and contribute future for them.
The ECU Food and Wine Festival is more than just a celebration of fine dining - it’s a vital event that enriches the university community while directly supporting hospitality students. By raising funds for scholarship, the festival alleviates financial burdens, allowing students to focus on their academic goals and career development without the stressful of tuition fee. Don’t miss this event!
Will the Chiefs three-peat?
Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59. The Chiefs and all world quarterback Patrick Mahomes are set to play in their fifth super bowl since 2020. Kansas City, under Mahomes, has a 3-1 record in the big game. Defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers (twice), and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This weekend the Chiefs will look to do what has never been done before in the NFL, win three Super Bowls in a row.
This will be the second matchup between the two teams in the big game in just three years. The Eagles and star quarterback Jalen Hurts will be looking to get back at the team who crushed their dreams a few years ago. In their 2022 matchup the Eagles were leading at half time but ended up losing 38-35 that night.
Since their loss in 2022, the Eagles have made many upgrades to their roster. This summer, they added superstar running back Saquan Barkley in free agency from the New York Giants. Barkley, in his first year with the club, rushed for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns.
They added rookie defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell this summer through the NFL draft who have both been playing at a very high level. In 2023 they added a premier talent at Defensive Tackle in Jalen Carter with the ninth pick in the NFL draft. The Eagles also found a hidden gem at linebacker this offseason. Zach Baun, who was basically a career special teamer for the Saints was signed to the Eagles this summer and is now playing at an all pro level.
Through these additions and the stellar play of the players on their star studded roster the Eagles finished the regular season with a record of 14-3 third in the NFC. The Eagles ranked eighth in total offense across
the entire NFL this season. Defensively Philadelphia is the top ranked team in the NFL.
The Chiefs have also made some additions of their own. This summer they traded up in the NFL draft to get rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy. They also signed speedy wide receiver Marquise Brown this offseason and traded for three time all pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins before the trade deadline. It’s safe to say that this is the best receiving core the Chiefs have had with Mahomes at the helm.
This season, Kansas City ranked 16th in total offense, their worst ranking the team has had with Mahomes. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense is ranked ninth in total defense. Despite the unusually poor offensive rankings, Kansas City finished with a 15-2 record and the number one seed in the AFC.
On paper, the Eagles should win this ball game. They have the best defense, the best running back, a top offensive line, a star studded receiving core, and a top ten talent at quarterback. With that being said, the Chiefs are undeniable in the postseason. Mahomes is already widely considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
The team has reached seven straight AFC Championship games and will now appear in its fifth super bowl since 2018.
When you pair an all time talent in Mahomes with arguably one of the greatest coaching staffs in history with Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo, they are the obvious favorite to win in any game they play. But I think it is time for someone not named Tom Brady to knock off Kansas City and the Eagles have the team to do so.
With one of the best all around rosters this league has seen, the Eagles must get the job done on Sunday. If not, Kansas City will have its fourth Super Bowl since 2018 and Mahomes will be well on his way to becoming the greatest football player of all time. So, will the Chiefs three-peat? I hope not.
Super Bowl 59 will kick off at 6:30 P.M. on Sunday at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fox will be broadcasting the game, Tom Brady and Kurt Burkhardt will be on the call. Tubi will be streaming the matchup for free as well.
Emilia Perez is a musical/thriller film released on Netflix, Nov. 12, 2024, and has won and been nominated for multiple awards by multiple organizations. It is written and directed by Jacques Audiard and stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez as the main three protagonists.
The film has been shrouded in controversy, especially in Mexico.
Audiences find it pushes bad stereotypes, cultural representation and has horrible dialogue in Spanish.
Even if it has been received badly by audiences, it has already won four awards at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion PictureMusical or Comedy, shocking many as it beat Disney’s Wicked.
I decided to take a risk and watch the movie, this is what I thought.
The film is set in Mexico and starts by showing us one of our main protagonists Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer faced with the dilemma of hating her job due to the amount of corruption she is involved with on a case-to-case basis.
Later in the movie we meet Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, a cartel kingpin who seeks the help of Castro to receive a gender-affirming surgery and become Emilia Perez, which will enable him to leave his life of crime and start a new one as his true self and far away from crime.
Selena Gomez plays the wife of Del Monte, she is unaware of the gender-affirming surgery, Del Monte fakes his death and with the help of Mora hides his new life from his wife and begins a new one as Emilia Perez.
Four years pass, and Perez reappears
moving back to Mexico and becoming an advocate for missing people, many of which she helped disappear when she was a cartel kingpin.
Once again with the help of Castro, Perez reunites with his family and wife although now appearing as a cousin of Del Monte.
A problem arises with his former wife, and because of the job, she is now helping missing people’s families. Perez eventually gets kidnapped by a rival cartel kingpin and his former wife, and they all die in a fiery car crash.
The film ends with a march celebrating Perez’s fight for truth and freedom and remembering her as a hero amidst all the chaos.
Karla Sofía Gascón stars in “Emilia Pérez” written and directed by the French
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahome’s clashes with Miami Dolphin’s safety DeShon Elliott.
Arts & Entertainment
TODAY
Crafts & Drafts: Coastal CreationsSea Glass Succulents Pitt
252-227-4151
6:00
6:00
Tiny
5:30
404 S. Evans St., Greenville, NC 27858
252-551-6947
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
TOMORROW
Downtown Greenville First Friday ArtWalks
Downtown Greenville NC Greenville , NC 27858
252-551-6947
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
3rd Annual Ayden
Founders’ Day Celebration
Ayden Community Building
548 Second St, Ayden, NC 28513
252-746-7028
10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, Suite 100 of the ECU Main Campus Student Center 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Bike Repair Clinic
Sonic Plaza (between Joyner and MCSC) East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
SATURDAY
ECU Symphony Orchestra
ECU A. J. Fletcher Music Center
102 A. J. Fletcher Music Center, Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6851
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
William Seymour at Plank Road
Plank Road Steakhouse
3689 E. Wilson Street, Farmville, NC 27828
252-753-3535
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Kanin Wren’s Taylor
Swift Experience
The State Theatre 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858
7:00 PM to 11:59 PM
Bike Repair Clinic
Sonic Plaza (between Joyner and MCSC)
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858,
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Triangle Rock Club
Climbing Trip
Triangle Rock Club Indoor Climbing Gym
ECU Main Campus Recreation Center, Greenville, 27858, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wake up and smell the roses with Awaken
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
Awaken Coffee is a non profit organization and is relatively new to the Greenville community. The business started two years ago and this week is expanding to the ECU Health Science Student Center on Feb. 3.
The coffee shop has one simple mission and that is to help employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They do this while also allowing them to develop skills with social environments that allow them to work better in the community.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our friends who work in the Brew Crew to interact with a lot more people their own age.” said Katelyn Bagnal, a manager of the shop.
Awaken Coffee started as a solution to a problem that strikes the disabled community at large. Over 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed nationwide. Carol Preston and Jennifer Dyson knew this had to change. Through the nonprofit, funding and volunteer efforts began to pour in until finally Awaken opened in Greenville on April 29, 2023.
“I’ve always had a heart for missions. I was looking for a way to work with special needs while also doing something with coffee and Awaken was here. I love it.” said Bagnal.
Awaken doesn’t just think of the now though,
they create pathways that their employees can use to get jobs outside of the shop. With 11 baristas employed as the “Brew Crew” and 21 volunteers, Awaken has created opportunities in a big way.
“We want to equip, enable, and empower them for whatever might come next for them. As well as be there for them.” Courtney
Club olympic weightlifting feels overlooked
Alexa Anderson TEC STAFF
ECU Club Olympic Weightlifting was established in 2012, and members say it feels more like a family than a team and has impacted each of them differently.
Em Varga, a senior and Co-President of Club Olympic Weightlifting, said this club offers a different feel than others, because everyone becomes so close. Since it’s a smaller-sized club, she said it feels more like a close-knit community, and everyone can get to know each other better. “It stops being a team, and starts being a found family,” said Varga
Before joining the club, Varga said she hadn’t made any friends on campus yet. She said Olympic Weightlifting was easy to join because it’s not cliquey, and was very welcoming. “As soon as you join the team you’re just one of the homies, and that’s what it’s always felt like,” Varga said.
A future goal Varga has for this club is to increase its members. She said no one knows what olympic weightlifting is, and it’s often mistaken for powerlifting. “This club is really just about good friends, lifting heavy weight; on the grind day in and day out, putting in work to become the best weightlifters they can,” Varga said.
Coleman Bass, a junior and Co-President of Club Olympic Weightlifting, said what differentiates Olympic lifting and powerlifting is the style they use. Bass said the two movements specific to this sport are the snatch and the clean jerk.
Bass joined as a sophomore and said he taught himself Olympic Weightlifting in high school but was excited to get real coaching here at ECU. Since joining this club he’s learned it’s a very upbeat and uplifting environment. “We’re always blasting music, dancing around, cracking jokes, and that’s kind of what keeps us going,” said Bass. Bass has tried to maintain an encouraging spirit himself when mentoring the younger weightlifters in the club. He’s helped one in particular by taking him to his first meet and guiding him through the ins and outs of Olympic Weightlifting.
Aiden Haislop, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, recently joined last semester.
He said he started weightlifting before his senior year of high school, but did not know what olympic weightlifting was until Bass introduced him to it.
Haislop said Bass has supported him through his first competitions helping him to get through the nerves. He said he’s gained confidence in his lifting abilities through Bass’s mentorship. “He just told me to go out there and have fun, just lift, and anything that needs to be fixed we’ll worry about it afterward,” said Haislop.
Haislop said he’s not only gained a mentor from this club, but also a place to go to calm down and release stress. “I can get out of the zone of being at school, and I can just focus on working out and being at the gym,” said Haislop.
Julia Daniel, Club Olympic Weightlifting coach and ECU alum, was president of this club when she was a Pirate. She graduated in December of 2021 and stepped into coaching in spring of 2022. “I really want the club to
continue because it made such a big impact on me when I was there, so I want to help keep growing it,” Daniel said.
A phrase Daniel likes to advocate is “effort over outcome.” She reminds members that all they can control is the amount of effort they put into each lift, and if it doesn’t go their way they can work on it later in the gym. “Focusing on trying to have fun is important, and not putting too much pressure on yourself,” she said.
“I want to keep the club around at ECU so that new students have access to Olympic Weightlifting,” Daniel said. She wants to keep coaching and help people reach their weightlifting goals. Daniel also said this club helps grow the sport and encourages Pirates to try this sport they may not know much about but could be very good at.
VARGA
From left to right, Coach Julia Daniel, co-president Em Varga, team member Aiden Haislop, Olympian Mary Theisen-Lappen, co-president Coleman Bass, and team member Allison Ambler at the WSO Championships
Classifieds & Puzzles
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Participate in a fascinating conversation. Network and strengthen communities. Communications flow more freely, with Jupiter direct. Launch a creative project. Expand fun collaborations.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Fortune blesses your endeavors. Finances improve now that Jupiter’s direct, with more lucrative opportunities. Expand your business and profits in the path of least resistance.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Realize personal possibilities. Stand up for what you love, with lucky Jupiter direct in your sign. You’ve got the power to make things happen.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Your intuition gets louder, with Jupiter stationing direct. Insights arise with reflection and introspection. Consider the past, present and future. Benefit through transition and change.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Collaborations leap forward with Jupiter direct. Friendships and community connections bring opportunities and benefits. Teamwork can accomplish wonders. Get social and harmonize together.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Grab a lucky break. Launch professional plans, with Jupiter direct in Gemini. Take charge of your career and step lively. You’re in growth mode.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Travels, adventures and studies grow now that Jupiter stations direct. Launch an exploration. Visit uncharted territory. Expand your terrain to investigate new ideas.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Grow family fortunes with close observation and steady contribution. Now that Jupiter is direct, it’s easier to save money. Work together for a dream.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Advance to the next level in a partnership. Teamwork comes easier now that Jupiter’s direct. Collaborate, negotiate and compromise. Expand and grow together.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Strive for excellence. Physical energy grows into a steady, productive rhythm, with fortunate Jupiter direct. Add structures to manage increased demand for your work.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Focus on passion. Romance flowers anew, with Jupiter direct. Advance your creative plans. Harness inspiration and enthusiasm. Have fun with your favorite people.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Nurture your family. It’s a good time to launch home improvement projects, with expansive Jupiter stationing direct. Take action to advance longanticipated plans.
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
©2024
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Caleb Johnson TEC Reporter
ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?
ECU 67-61
Why?
This will be an exciting matchup. Both of these teams have the same conference record and are only separated by two games in overall record.The key for the Pirates will be to hit the deep ball with consistency. If they can do that combined with their great defense and rebounding which we’ve seen all year, I believe they will come away with a win on the road.
Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?
XXX
Why?
This is going to be a tough matchup for both teams, both are around the middle of the pack in the American standings and Primo Spears for UTSA is a capital B, BucketGetter. We’re going to need another bug game from C.J. Walker or RJ Felton for us to win this game and for us to continue to win the rebound battle and play lockdown defense. This is going to be a tough one in San Antonio but I think the Pirates could win this one.
Nick Green
WZMB Sports & News Director
ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?
ECU 78-72
Why?
Once again we’re looking at a very matchup between us and the roadrunners. If the Pirates are gonna come away with a win, every play matters. We have to limit turnovers, take smart shots and quit rushing the shot like we’ve seen in previous games. That being said, I trust the guys on the floor to do enough to get us past UTSA and get the job done, so I’m rolling with the Pirates.
ECU takes down Wichita State
In a back and forth battle, East Carolina University women’s basketball team (11-11, 3-7 American Athletic Conference) came out on top against Wichita State University (7-16, 1-9 American Athletic Conference) on January 29, 2025. The Pirates win was highlighted by junior forward Amiya Joyner surpassing the 1,000 career points milestone, cementing herself as one of ECU’s basketball greats.
The game began with Wichita State taking control of the game early, leading for 25 minutes and holding a 36-30 lead at halftime. The Pirates struggled in the first half against the AAC’s current last place team, but adjustments at the break proved to get ECU back on track. Switching to a 2-3 zone defense and running a three forward lineup halted the shockers offense and limited them
to just 7 points in the third quarter.
With East Carolina outsourcing Wichita 15-7 in the third quarter and leading the game by two points, the stage was set for a dramatic battle in the fourth. At one point in the fourth quarter ECU trailed by as much as seven points before mounting a comeback, partly led by sophomore guard Jayla Hearp who hit a few clutch three point shots. Hearp finished with 15 points, Joyner finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, and graduate student forward Anzhane Hutton finished with 15 points of her own, all lifting the Pirates to a win.
Free throws played a significant part in the win, with the Pirates capitalizing on 23 of their 29 attempts at the line (79%). Along with free throws, their points off turnovers resulted in 24 points, compared to Wichita’s state’s 12. Switching defenses at halftime was the key factor in forcing bad shots and turnovers
against Wichita State, leading to fast break points and easy buckets in the paint.
Additionally, the Pirates dominated on the glass, outrebounding the shockers 42-33. After a three game losing streak, there seemed to be a sense of urgency that led the Pirates to be more aggressive and lock in on defense. With this win, it marks the fifth consecutive win over Wichita in the past three years.
Crediting Pirates Head Coach Kim McNeill, her halftime adjustments were the key factor in the second half turnaround.
The Pirates head to Memphis, Tennessee to take on Memphis University (5-15, 3-6 American Athletic Conference) on February 1, 2025. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ for those who want to show their support for the Pirates.
ECU Loses to Temple 98-94 In Overtime
Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF
Saturday afternoon the East Carolina University (12-10, 4-5 in American Athletic Conference) men’s basketball team lost to Temple University (14-8, 6-3 in AAC) 98-94 in Overtime. The Pirates, who were ranked sixth in the conference, have now dropped to eighth place in the American.
East Carolina was on a three game win streak coming into this game, but their
recent success was unfortunately spoiled by the Owls. If the Pirates had won this game they would have moved to a top five spot in the American.
Highlight performances came from senior forward C.J. Walker, senior guard RJ Felton, and senior guard Jordan Riley. Walker finished with 33 points and seven rebounds, his 33 points marked a new career high for him. RJ Felton had 19 points and 12 rebounds on the night. Jordan Riley finished with 13 points, four assists, and five rebounds in his return to his former school.
The game opened up with back to back threes from senior guard Cam Hayes and junior forward Trevion LaBeaux. The Pirates, with a 6-0 lead, continued to stretch their advantage throughout the first half leading the whole way through. With key contributions from C.J. Walker, ECU led 33-26 to close the half.
Throughout the second half the Pirates were able to maintain their lead. The scoring onslaught continued from Walker, who was the catalyst in building the lead in the first half. Jordan Riley also rocked the rim with two monster dunks.
With three minutes left in the half, the Owls went on a 10-2 run to tie the game 76-76. Temple had previously trailed since the opening tip. Turnovers by Hayes and Felton along with a missed shot at the Buzzer from Felton cost the Pirates their opportunity to win the game in regulation. In overtime, the Owls ran away with the ball game outscoring the Pirates 22-18. The game concluded with a score of 98-94 in Temple’s favor.
Despite winning the battle on the glass by 13, this game was lost from beyond the arch for ECU. The magic number for East Carolina has been making 10 threes in the game, they’re 4-0 whenever they hit that mark. The Pirates shot 26% (5-19) from deep while the Owls shot an even 50% (9/18) from deep.
ECU could not match the three point shooting from Temple in the clutch. The Pirates will take on Rice University (11-10, 2-6 in AAC) Wednesday Feb, 5. The game
Garett Skillman THE EAST CAROLINIAN
BECCA ERZEN THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina Pirates junior guard Bobbi Smith, senior guard Morgan Mosely, and senior forward Tatyana Wyche celebrating during the timeout.
BECCA ERZEN THE EAST CAROLINIAN Pirates freshman guard Devin Hagemann drives down the lane.
BECCA ERZEN THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Senior forward Tatyana Wyche takes the opening tip off vs. Wichita State.
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES Senior forward C.J. Walker dunks vs. Temple.