Women's Basketball 11/26/2007 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Lady Pirates Defeat Radford, 71-54

Hampton cruised to a 71-54 win over the visiting Radford Highlanders, Sunday night at the HU Convocation Center.

The Lady Pirates were up by as many as six points during the first half, scoring 14 points in the paint and 13 points off the bench. Rachel Butler and Ashlee Finley led Hampton in scoring with seven points apiece. Going into halftime, Artavia Burns made a jumper which would give the Lady Pirates the edge with a score of 27-22.

The Lady Highlanders scored four points off 17 Hampton turnovers and five second chance points in the first half of play. Kelli Darden and Vandy Pullen led Radford with six points a piece to come within five of the Lady Pirates.

The second half would not be any different in terms of dominance. Ashlee Finley scored 11 points in the second half to lead the Lady Pirates’ in scoring with 18 points, followed by Rachel Butler with seven points in the second half and 14 for the game.

The Lady Pirates scored 38 points in the paint and 21 points off nine Radford turnovers. From the bench, the Lady Pirates scored 35 points.

“We wanted to come home and show that we are a much better team than the team that showed up in Charlotte, said Head Coach Walter Mebane.”

A much better team is what showed up to play against the Lady Highlanders. The Lady Pirates were 73 percent from the free throw line and 45.5 percent in field goal percentage, doubling their percentage from Charlotte.

The Lady Pirates will be on the road for the next five games, playing in the Air Force Tournament on November 30. Hampton returns home on January 12 for their MEAC opener against the Lady Wildcats from Bethune-Cookman.