Hampton Uses Defense and Balanced Scoring to Down Coppin State
Winston-Salem, N.C. - March 11 - Hampton combined balanced scoring and a strong second half defense into a 70-46 win over Coppin State in the semifinals of the MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament at the Joel Coliseum. The Lady Pirates (24-6), the top seed, advance to the tournament championship for the third straight season. They will take on the Howard in the championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The game will air tape-delayed on Sunday, March 13 at 11 a.m.
After holding a 28-23 lead at the half, Hampton's Jericka Jenkins, an All-MEAC first-team selection, led the team in the first half with 10 points.
Jenkins tallied 12 of her game-high 22 while also setting up teammates Quanneisha Perry (12 points), Melanie Warner (12 points) and Choicetta McMillan (10 points). Ranked among the leaders in assists nationally, Jenkins finished with five assists and only two turnovers.
“When you are sitting on the sidelines, you can see more than the players can,” said Hampton head coach David Six, the 2010-11 MEAC Coach of the Year. “It’s hard to convey to them from a distance what’s going on. There was a lot of confusion in the first half on our part because of some of the things they were doing offensively on the picks and rolls, and some of their changing defenses. But we were able to make some adjustments in the second half.”
In addition to their scoring, Perry, the two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and Warner, also played an important role with their rebounding. Warner finished with a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double while Perry grabbed eight as the Lady Pirates held a 48-30 advantage in rebounding while also limiting the Lady Eagles (13-17), the Number 5 seed, to 32-percent shooting for the game.
“Defensively, I thought were solid even when they gave us some different looks,” said Six. “We’re a defensive minded team. That is what we rely on at Hampton.”
After shooting poorly in the first 20 minutes, the Pirates got into their groove, connecting on 45 percent (14-of -31) and converting on 13 of 14 free throw attempts.
“I have to give Hampton a lot of credit,’ said Coppin State Coach Derek Brown. “They turned up the defense in the second half and dominated my young group. That was the difference.”
The Lady Eagles rely heavily upon freshmen and sophomores and it showed in the second half as they missed several close-in shots, appeared tentative and made several unforced errors.
“When you rely on so many young players like we have, you have performances like this,” said Brown. “Most of this group has never been in this situation before. It was a good learning experience for them.”
Shawntae Payne led the Lady Eagles with nine points while 2010-11 MEAC Rookie of the Year Larissa Carter, and Crystal Whittington each contributed seven points.
Curley Payne Comes Up Big in Win over Morgan State
Winston-Salem, N.C.- March 11 - Cheyenne Curley Payne scored a game-high 18 points while Saadia Doyle and Tamoria Holmes added 11 and 10, respectively to help Howard hold off Morgan State in the semifinal round of the MEAC Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Joel Coliseum. The No. 6 Lady Bison (16-17), the will take on No. 1 Hampton on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Howard took control early as Doyle, the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year, tallied nine of her points en route to a 28-21 halftime advantage. Curley Payne chipped in with seven points while the No. 3 Lady Bears (17-14) received eight points from Erin Hawkins.
The Lady Bison continued to control the game though most of the second half despite getting little production from Doyle, who came into the game averaging over 18 points per game.
“They were sending multiple people from all different kind of angles at me,” said Doyle. “Before the ball went out, I was already being boxed out. I didn’t handle it very well today. I got a bit panicky and it showed.”
With the Lady Bears putting much of their emphasis on containing Doyle, Curley Payne was able to make them pay. The sophomore guard hit five shots in the second stanza and grabbed seven rebounds.
“She’s 5-2, but she is second on the team in rebounding behind Saadia,” said Howard Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. “She may be small but her heart is huge. She leads us in that way as you saw tonight.”
Curley Payne’s two free throws at the 2:32 mark gave Howard its biggest lead of the game at 49-39. The Lady Bears staged a rally with a 12-3 run over a 2:10 stretch that cut the deficit to 52-51 with 22 seconds left on the clock.
The Lady Bison regrouped, hit some free throws and kept the Lady Bears scoreless the rest of the way, sending them into the championship game for the first time since 2001.
“What a way to end a game” said Coach Geckeler. “To have so many sophomores and to get to this point is very gratifying.”
In addition to her 18 points, Curley Payne added seven rebounds and four assists. Holmes, who also had some key plays in the second half, tallied seven of her 10 after intermission and Doyle finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Morgan State was led by Erin Hawkins and Brittany Dodson, who each scored 14 and Monesha Davis, who contributed 10 in a losing cause.
“Howard has improved all year,” said Morgan State Coach Donald Beasley. “They played well. They are a good team and they deserve the win.