Lady Pirates Drop Home Finale To Delaware State

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team lost its final home game of the 2015-16 season on Monday, as Delaware State defeated the Lady Pirates 89-81 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Lady Pirates fell to 13-15 overall and 11-4 in MEAC play.

Junior guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas led all scorers with 35 points on 11-for-19 shooting, hitting six of her 11 3-pointers. She also grabbed eight rebounds, tying with sophomore forward Kaylah Lupoe for the team high.

Tate-DeFreitas has five 30-point games this season.

Freshman guard Dejane’ James added 12 points, hitting off six of her free throws. Freshman guard K’lynn Willis and Lupoe each had nine points, and Willis dished out a career-high six assists.

N’Kayah Kersey, Nikkei Blackburn, and Mikah Aldridge each had 19 points for the Hornets.

For more information visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.dsuhornets.com

 

Howard Survives Last-Second Shot For Win At Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Va. - Victoria Gonzales hit two free throws with 0.5 seconds left, and officials ruled that Kayla Roberts' off-balanced 3-pointer at the buzzer was not released in time, giving Howard a 64-63 win over Norfolk State on Monday night at Echols Hall.

Gonzales led all players with 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Bison (6-23, 4-12), who avenged a 110-108, double-overtime loss to the Spartans (2-23, 2-13) from Feb. 6. Brehanna Daniels scored a career-high 17 points to pace the Spartans.

NSU trailed 62-57 in a see-saw affair with 1:38 remaining. But Koryn Lawrence made a layup and Siobhan Beslow made two free throws to bring NSU within 62-61. The Spartans then forced a tie-up at the other end, giving NSU the ball on the alternating possession. Gonzales slammed the ball to the floor following the jump-ball, resulting in a technical foul. Beslow then sank two free throws with 42.3 seconds remaining to give the Spartans a 63-62 lead.

The Spartans came up empty on the ensuing possession. But they appeared to be in good shape as Lawrence nearly came up with a steal in the closing seconds. But the loose ball was again tied up, this time giving Howard the ball on the alternating possession. Gonzales received the inbound pass and missed a jumper, but officials whistled NSU for a foul on the shot with 0.5 seconds left. Gonzales made both free throws for a one-point edge.

NSU called timeout to advance the ball to half-court. Kiara Phillips inbounded to Roberts, who appeared to make a leaning bank shot from 3-point range as the buzzer sounded. Officials originally ruled the shot good, but after a courtside review of the play showed that the shot did not leave Roberts' hand in time, giving the Bison the win.

Imani Bailey was the only other Howard player in double figures, with 17 points (11-of-12 from the free-throw line).

For more information visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.hubison.com

 

 

N.C. Central Tops Savannah State

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior Tisha Dixon registered a double-double in her final home game and sophomore Kierona Morton had a career night as the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team held off Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Savannah State, 65-61, inside McDougald-McLendon Arena Monday evening.

A pair of made free throws by freshman Dominique Adams with 5.6 seconds left in regulation sealed the four-point win for the Lady Eagles.

NCCU (5-21 Overall, 3-12 MEAC) snapped a nine-game losing streak in league play and the victory secured the Lady Eagles the 12th seed in the 2016 MEAC Tournament. NCCU will play the fifth seed (TBD) in the opening round of the championship on Monday, March 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Dixon led the Lady Eagles with game-high totals of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Her 19 points matched her career-high previously set in NCCU’s last win at Johnson & Wales on Feb. 8. Dixon, who has five double-doubles on the season and 12 in her career, has logged double-doubles in three of her last four games.

Morton recorded 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the victors. She set new career-highs with her 10 points and four swats.

A total of four Lady Eagles reached double digits in the scoring column with Adams and junior Morgan Jones both pouring in 10 points. Freshman Chantal Thomas orchestrated NCCU’s offense by dishing out a career-high seven assists.

Juniors Jeremica Edwards and Rhianna Warren led the Lady Tigers with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Classmate Tiyonda Davis just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

For more information visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssuathletics.com