BOXSCORE

HAMPTON, Va. – Freshman guard Whitney Hill (Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS) registered a career-high 19 points but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Pirates subsequently fell to host Norfolk State, 70-66 inside Echols Hall Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates (3-3, 0-1 MEAC) shot 44 percent (12-7) from the floor in the first half as the Spartans (1-6, 1-0 MEAC) looked to take a six point advantage (45-29) heading into intermission. Nevertheless, a trey by Stephanie James (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at the buzzer cut the Spartan lead to three at halftime.

The Lady Pirates exploded into the second half with a 7-4 run sparked by steal by Artavia Burns (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) and a lay-up by Rachel Butler (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) with 17:12 remaining. From that point on Hampton and Norfolk State traded leads as the second half saw eight lead changes until a three-pointer by Shawn Hillman gave the Spartans the lead for good with 3:50 remaining. HU brought the lead within three with 34 seconds left but with two trips to the free-throw line the Spartans gained a five-point advantage with 18 seconds remaining. Nevertheless, the blue and white had plenty of fight left with Burns scoring at .14 to bring the Lady Pirates back within three.

However Burns missed three-pointer with four seconds left sealed the victory the Spartans.

This is the first win of the season for Norfolk State and the Pirates remain winless on the road.

Butler and Burns were the other two Lady Pirates in double figures with 12 and 10 points respectively.

Toia Johnson led four players in double figures with 18 points going 4-8 from behind the arc.


As a team HU shot 10 percent from the three-point line going 1-10, while the Spartans connected 8-18 (44 percent).

Hampton will return to action on Saturday, December 9th to host James Madison at 7 p.m.