Lady Pirates beat Aggies, go unbeaten in MEAC
HAMPTON, Va. – On a night where the seniors had the spotlight at the HU Convocation Center, the Hampton University women’s basketball team survived a 54-51 win over North Carolina A&T on Thursday thanks to a freshman.
Not only did freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas pour in 15 points, she scored four straight points in the closing minutes as the Lady Pirates trailed. With 2:10 remaining, Tracy King put the Lady Aggies up 51-48.
Tate-DeFreitas answered with a jumper 13 seconds later, and then she hit two free throws with 1:14 left to give the Lady Pirates a 52-51 lead.
Sophomore forward Tyler Hobgood and junior guard Kenia Cole each added a free throw in the closing moments to clinch the victory – and send Hampton (25-4, 16-0 MEAC) to an undefeated mark in conference play for the second straight season.
Senior forward Alyssa Bennett led the way with 18 points in her final home game. Senior guard Nicole Hamilton added eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Redshirt-sophomore forward Brielle Ward grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.
The Lady Pirates shot 27.9 percent (19-for-68) from the floor and hit three of 16 3-pointers. Hampton shot 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) from the free throw line and turned 17 N.C. A&T turnovers into 10 points.
The Lady Aggies (23-5, 13-3 MEAC) shot 31.0 percent (18-for-58) from the floor and out-rebounded Hampton 47-44. N.C. A&T only made three of its 10 3-pointers, though, and missed three crucial free throws in the second half.
Ariel Bursey led N.C. A&T with 18 points.
The 2014 MEAC Tournament will be held Monday through Saturday at Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va. The Lady Pirates, as the top seed and four-time defending champion, will have a first-round bye and play in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round at 12 p.m.
Hampton will go into the tournament on a 15-game winning streak, and the Lady Pirates have won their last 46 games against MEAC opponents – including conference tournament games. The win over North Carolina A&T also gives the Lady Pirates an 18-game home MEAC winning streak.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.ncataggies.com
Hornets drop heartbreaker at UMES
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. –The Delaware State women’s basketball team (8-20, 3-13 MEAC) led by as many as 14 points on two separate occasions in the second half, but the UMES Hawks (8-20, 4-12 MEAC) crawled all the way back Thursday night to pull out a 74-71 overtime victory, in what was the final regular season game for both squads.
Coming into Thursday’s game, the Lady Hornets were 3-0 in overtime games this season, including a 64-61 win at home on Saturday over Howard.
The Hornets shot 47 percent (28-of-60) from the floor, compared to UMES’s 35 percent (25-of-72). Raven Bankston, who was bothered by a lingering shoulder injury most of the night, led three Hornet players in double figures with a team-high 20 points (9-of-22), but struggled to take care of the ball by committing a game-high nine turnovers.
For the Hawks, Mariah McCoy led four players in double figures with a game-high 21 points (9-of-14). Ashleigh Claybrooks recorded a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 15 rebounds off the bench.
In addition to Claybrooks’ effort on the glass, UMES out-rebounded the Lady Hornets, 53-38, with forward Shanyce Stewart pulling down 10 rebounds. The lone bright spot for DSU on the boards was Tylinn Carter with a career-high 18 rebounds, which is the most by any Hornet this season.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.umeshawks.com
NCCU ends regular season with win over Norfolk State
NORFOLK, Va. – Redshirt senior Jessica Freeman’s game-high 22 points helped the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team tie the programs most victories since the division I transition as the Lady Eagles (11-18, 6-10 MEAC) defeated Norfolk State (12-15, 8-8 MEAC), spoiling the Spartans “Senior Night” with a 63-53 road victory in Norfolk on Thursday.
Freeman shot 8-for-15 from the field, 1-for-2 from behind the arc and 5-for-8 from the free throw line while pulling down three rebounds, dishing three helpers and collecting one steal complimenting her 22 points during the NCCU victory.
In addition to Freeman, junior Racquel Davis added 13 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-5 from the foul line, while collecting a game-high nine rebounds, one block and one steal.
Junior Khyra Conerly chipped in nine points, three assists and two steals during the victory while rookie Morgan Jones and Dixon added six points apiece.
Logan Powell led NSU with 16 points and eight boards, while Gray added nine points and Rachel Gordon collected eight additional rebounds for the Spartans.
As a team NCCU shot 22-for-48 from the field (45.8%), 1-for-5 from behind the arc (20.0%) and 18-for-27 from the free throw line (66.7%), out rebounded NSU 37-34, dished 10 assists, while collecting three blocks and seven steals.
Freeman wrapped up her final regular season on the court setting NCCU’s single season three-point field goals made record with 66. Freeman passed Shanise Blanks (2009-10) and Lisa Brown’s (1987-88) 64 shots made from behind to arc to top the Lady Eagles single season all-time leaders.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Florida A&M Foils Bethune-Cookman 67-60 In Regular Season Finale
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman cut a 13-point halftime deficit down to one point, but Florida A&M held on for a 67-60 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory in the regular season finale for both teams Thursday.
Jasmine Grice scored 20 of her 29 points in the opening half to give the Lady Rattlers (16-13,10-6 MEAC) a 42-29 halftime advantage.
Chastity Rene Taylor and Godfrey led B-CU with 14 points apiece. Taylor had nine rebounds. Deja Gibson scored 10 and Taylor Houston posted eight points and nine rebounds.
Freshman Kailyn Williams blocked three shots, bringing her season total to 91.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.famuathletics.com