On Monday, Feb. 20, the Hampton University women's basketball program will bid farewell to five seniors, but for three of the five – Choicetta McMillian, Melanie Warner and Jericka Jenkins – the farewell will mark the end of one of the most successful journeys in Lady Pirates' history.
 
McMillian, Warner and Jenkins are the only seniors who have been with the Lady Pirates all four years; They were initially recruited by former head coach Walter Mebane, the trio decided to continue playing for David Six when he took over prior to the 2009-10 season.
 
Since Six's arrival, the program has seen recent success, winning back-to-back MEAC Tournament championships, last year's MEAC regular season championship and making two appearances in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
 
The Lady Pirates not only saw their highest seed, but also the MEAC's highest seed in the NCAA Tournament's 64-team format, as Hampton earned a No. 13 seed in last year's tournament and took Kentucky to overtime in the first round.
 
The Lady Pirates are currently 18-4 overall (just two wins shy of their third straight 20-win season) and 10-1 record in conference play, tied with Florida A&M for the top spot in the MEAC.
 
About the Senior Class
Given how McMillian, Warner and Jenkins are so interwoven into the fabric of the women's basketball program, and so integral to the team's recent success, it only makes sense that they're intertwined with each other as well.
 
Here is what each senior had to say about her teammates.
 
McMillian on Jenkins and Warner: “Jericka has grown so much as a player and there is no other point guard that I would want passing me the ball. She sees the game at a different level and she is full of energy. I love playing with her, and Jericka is one of the strongest people I know because of what she has been through. Now, Mel is one of the funniest people I know and I enjoy being around her. Mel has been my roommate since freshman year and she understands me. They both are great people and I'm happy that I met both of them.”
 
Warner on McMillian and Jenkins: “Choice is funny in her own way and she is someone who has always been there for me. Whenever I need to talk to someone, she is always there because she understands me and I am grateful for all that she does: for not only me, but the team. Jericka is like my little sister and my best friend. I look at her and see how far she has come and everything that she has gone through. It gives me motivation to succeed at whatever I do on and off the court. I love playing with both of them, but JJ is always making me laugh … even when I don't want to laugh.”
 
Jenkins on McMillian and Warner: “Choice has improved as a shooter and when it comes to Choice, the motto is 'Hand Down, Man Down;' you have to guard her, because she is such a great shooter. She is as country as they come, but when all is said and done, she is one of the better players here at Hampton.  Mel has improved as a player overall and it's really unclear as to if she is a guard or forward, but she has developed inside and outside. Mel is my best friend and she's always making me laugh. I feel like I am a much better person because of Choice and Mel on the court … and besides, they help my assist numbers stay up.”
 
Competition
The body of work these three seniors have put together has been nothing short of amazing. They currently have a combined record of 79-39 (.669) -- 46 of those wins coming in the MEAC; Hampton has a record of 46-13 (.780) in conference play over the last three-plus seasons.
 
Winning games has just been the tip of the iceburg for these players, as they have garnered honors and awards on many different levels during their tenure at Hampton. They have also been highly-ranked as a team since Six came in with a renewed focus on defense.
 
This trio has played in the MEAC Tournament championship game each of their first three seasons at Hampton, and they have an eye on a fourth appearance.
 
When it comes to awards, these young ladies have been pulling them in over the last three years. Jenkins became the first Lady Pirate in school history to be recognized by the Associated Press, when she was an Honorable Mention All-American last season; she was also named to the All-MEAC First Team, on top of being named Richmond Times-Dispatch First Team All-State, VaSID Second Team All-State and named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.
 
Jenkins was also named to the 2008-09 MEAC All-Rookie Team, and she was recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA); she was also named to the 2011 and 2012 Capital One Academic All-District® Teams. She was also named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior Class Award this past year.
 
Warner was named to the 2010 MEAC All-Tournament Team and was honored as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.
 
All three student-athletes have been named MEAC Defensive Players of the Week, MEAC Rookie of the Week, and MEAC Player of the Week a combined 10 times total – including a combined four so far this season (Jenkins was named Player of the Week on Jan. 2 and Jan. 23, McMillian earned the honor on Dec. 12 and Warner picked up Player of the Week honors on Dec. 5).
 
National Rankings
Hampton has been widely known for its defense over the last few seasons, and because of that, the Lady Pirates have been ranked among the top teams in all of Division I.
 
The Lady Pirates are currently second in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 21.2 percent shooting (59-for-278) from beyond the arc, behind only South Carolina in all of Division I.
 
Hampton is also fourth in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 49.4 points per game, and 11^th in scoring margin – beating teams by an average of 18.2 points. The Lady Pirates have held 16 of their 22 opponents under 60 points – and 12 under 50 points (including 11 of their last 18).
 
Hampton has not given up more than 69 points in a game so far this season.
 
The Lady Pirates are also 11^th in turnover margin at 6.41 and 14^th in turnovers per game at 13.7. Hampton is also holding opponents to 34-3 percent shooting, which is the 15^th-best field goal percentage defense in the nation.
 
Jenkins currently leads the nation in assists per game, averaging 8.0 per game. She has had at least six assists in each of her last 13 games.
 
She is also fourth in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.67) and 23^rd in free throw percentage (.867). Jenkins also finished last season second in the nation in assists per game with 7.2 per game and in assist-turnover ratio with 2.96.
 
McMillian sits sixth in the country in 3-pointers per game, draining 3.2 shots per contest from behind the arc.
 
Classroom
On May 13, 2012, all three of these student-athletes will walk across the stage to graduate as they bid farewell to Hampton University.
 
McMillian will complete all of the requirements to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Liberal Arts. She has been a key member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) all four years at Hampton. McMillian has also been influential in many of the SAAC community service activities, including: Relay for Life, the American Heart Walk, Light the Night, Jump Rope for Heart, Hampton Play Day and many others.
 
McMillian has also been named to the Dean's List twice in her collegiate career.
 
Warner will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. She has been on the Dean's List six times at Hampton, and she has also been a member of the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team three times. She is also active in the community with Relay for Life, the American Heart Walk, Light the Night, Jump Rope for Heart and Hampton Play Day.
 
Jenkins will receive a degree in Criminal Justice/Criminology in May. She has made the Dean's List seven times (every semester at Hampton), and she is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma. Jenkins was named to the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team three years in a row, and she was selected to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District® Team two years in a row for her performance on the court as well as in the classroom.
 
Jenkins, who won her battle with cancer as a teenager, was also a finalist for The V Foundation Comeback Award in 2009; she also takes part in Relay for Life, the Light the Night Walk for awareness on cancer and the American Heart Walk each year, to name a few.
 
These three seniors have seen it all; they have wins over schools from the Big East, ACC and SEC, but when you ask any of them about playing for another MEAC Championship they all say the same thing: “in order to play for a championship, you have to get there, and take it game-by-game with Maryland Eastern Shore the only thing on (their) mind.”
 
After being off on this past Monday, the Lady Pirates will be back in action on Saturday when they play host Maryland Eastern Shore at the HU Convocation Center at 4 p.m.