Hampton Completes Season Sweep of NSU, 74-53
Hampton 74, Norfolk State 53
Norfolk, Va. - A big run by Hampton to end the first half propelled the Lady Pirates to a 74-53 win over Norfolk State Saturday afternoon at Joseph Echols Hall.
In front of a crowd of 2,253 in the hardcourt version of the Battle of the Bay, Jericka Jenkins and Coicetta McMillian totaled 22 and 20 points, respectively, as first-place Hampton improved to 18-6 overall and 10-1 in the MEAC. NSU fell to 8-13, 1-10 as the Spartans dropped their fifth game in a row.
The announced crowd marked the biggest attendance for the women's team in seven years.
Sophomore Marian Brooks led NSU with 11 points, while junior Tyisha Bridges totaled nine points, four rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Batavia Owens also added nine points and five rebounds, and junior Sarah Daily had a team-high six boards.
Jenkins also added nine assists and four steals for the Pirates, while Melanie Warner totaled 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Quanneisha Perry had a team-leading six rebounds with eight points and two steals.
For complete story visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
S.C. State Drops 71-45 Decision to Coppin State; Breast Cancer Survivors Honored
Coppin State 71, South Carolina State 45
Orangeburg, S.C. - Larissa Carter tossed in 17 points and Shawntae Payne added 16 to lead visiting Coppin State to a 71-45 victory over host S.C. State Saturday in a MEAC contest at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
Tracey Flowers came off the bench for nine points to lead S.C. State, which had no players in double figures in the loss. Trinese Fox added seven points and Tiana Hemphill six for the Lady Bulldogs, who dropped their eighth consecutive game to dip to 6-14 and 2-8 in the conference. Paris Alston had a team-high eight rebounds for the host.
Coppin State, receiving 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds from Crystal Whittington, improved to 8-13 overall and 5-5 in the MEAC with the win, which gave them a sweep of the series with S.C. State this year.
The Lady Bulldogs wore pink T-Shirts in warm ups and pink laces during the game, while the coaching staff donned pink attire in joining forces - for the third consecutive year -- with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in raising awareness for breast cancer.
The Lady Bulldogs had additional support on the bench, as Shirley Caldwell, an employee in the S.C. State Registrar's Office and a breast cancer survivor, was honorary coach for the game. Caldwell, and a number of other breast cancer survivors were recognized during a special halftime program.
The ceremony culminated "Pink Zone" week - an initiative in which S.C. State and approximately 1,100 other schools sponsored activities to bring attention to breast cancer. Patrons at the game bought T-shirts and donations to support the cause.
Tiara Knotts, who finished with five points, opened the contest with a 3-pointer to give SC State a 3-0 lead in the opening half, but that would be the only lead of the contest for the host as Coppin State ran eight straight points to take an 8-3 lead.
For complete story visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
Lady Eagles Snap 13-Game Losing Skid with Win Over Morgan State
North Carolina Central 60, Morgan State 49
Durham, N.C. - Three Lady Eagles scored in double figures to lead North Carolina Central to a come-from-behind 60-49 victory over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, ending a 13-game losing skid.
The Lady Eagles last enjoyed the sweet taste of victory back to Dec. 18, 2010, when NCCU upset Big South power Liberty University, 50-48.
NCCU (3-21) received contributions from a host of Lady Eagles. Senior Jori Nwachukwu recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while also securing a season-best six steals. Sophomore Chasidy Williams came off the bench to score 15 points, including 11 in the opening 20 minutes to keep the Lady Eagles close in the first half. Sophomore J'Mia Pollock collected 10 boards, her third double-digit rebounding effort this season, to go along with six points and two blocked shots.
Morgan State (14-9) scored the first five points of the contest and led by as much as eight points in the opening stanza. NCCU closed the first half with a 13-6 run, including seven points from Williams, to trim the deficit to 29-30 at intermission.
Senior center Theresa Davis led Morgan State with 13 points, five rebounds and two rejections. Sophomore guard Jamesia Smith added 11 points, while junior Kyla Rollins came off the bench to contribute eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Lady Bears.
For complete story visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Bennett, McKelton, Hot Second Half Push FAMU Past UMES, 81-58
Florida A&M 81, Maryland E. Shore 58
Tallahassee, Fla. - Four Florida A&M players scored double figures led by Antonia Bennett with 25 and Tameka McKelton with 21 as the Lady Rattlers defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, 81-58, at the Al Lawson Center Saturday.
Bennett shot 10-for-18 and grabbed 10 rebounds and four steals for FAMU, which improved to 12-11 (7-4 MEAC) with its second straight win. UMES fell to 8-16 (5-6) with its second consecutive loss.
Chelsea Sanders paced three Lady Hawks in double digits with 15 6-of-12 from the field.
Amber Cook and Bria Jackson each recorded 10 points for UMES.
The Lady Rattlers outscored the Lady Hawks, 47-33, in the second half to blow open nine-point game at halftime. FAMU shot 57.7 percent in the second half on 15-for-26 from the floor to finish the game at 53.7percent.
LaKendra Wilkerson converted a layup to give UMES a 7-5 advantage over four minutes in but Bennett ignited a 10-1 run for FAMU with three 3-pointers to push the Lady Rattlers ahead, 15-8.
A Sanders jumper from Wilkerson halted the run temporarily before Florida A&M extended the margin to 24-10 with nine in a row, including five by McKelton.
UMES was able to finish the half strong with a Shanyce Stewart jumper just inside the final minute and a Cook tip-in with seven second left to cut it to 34-25 at the break.
Bennett led all scorers with 17 points in the half.
For complete story visit www.umeshawks.com or www.famurattlersports.com
Bolden Bashes DSU With 29-13 Double-Double In B-CU's 55-50 Win
Bethune-Cookman 55, Delaware State 50
Daytona Beach, Fla. -Bethune-Cookman snapped a two-game losing streak with a 55-50 victory over the Lady Hornets in a MEAC game in the spacious Ocean Center.
A monster double-double of 29 points and 13 points from senior Sarah Bolden lifted a Lady Wildcat squad trying to find a way to win. Other than Cleniece Roberts (11 points), no other B-CU player registered more than one field goal.
Bolden made her first nine shots and finished 12-16 from the field as she posted a career-high. She also was 5-7 from the line.
A Roberts' jumper gave B-CU a 49-48 advantage on the game's 13th lead change, B-CU (12-11 overall, 5-6 MEAC) held the Lady Hornets (7-16,3-8) to one free throw in the final five minutes to preserve the lead.
Roberts was 4-7 from the field for B-CU. Elum had six points and six rebounds.
Leading for the Lady Hornets were Kianna Conner with 11 points and Tasia Bristow with 10.
Freshman Deanna Harmon led defensively for DSU grabbing 11 boards and three steals.
For complete story visit www.b-cuathletics.com or www.dsuhornets.com
North Carolina A&T 58, Howard 54 - Recap to follow