BOXSCORE

HAMPTON, Va.-For the first time in school history the Lady Bears of Morgan State University claimed a victory inside the Hampton University Convocation Center defeating the Lady Pirates 65-61 in an overtime thriller.

Morgan State (7-6, 2-2 MEAC) mounted a late rally against Hampton University (7-7, 3-2 MEAC) to escape with the four point victory. The Lady Pirates were down by as many as 10 in the second half until a jumper by sophomore guard Linda Rickenbacker (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS) launched a 15-10 by the Pirates to cut the MSU lead to two points with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. The Lady Bears looked to score on the other end, but an offensive foul by Corin Adams sent sophomore forward Ashlee Finley (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg HS) to the charity stripe were she connected both free-throws to tie the game at 55 with .4 seconds left sending it into overtime.

A long-range jumper by Artavia Burns (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) gave the Lady Pirates a two point edge in the opening minutes of the third period. The blue and while had a chance to increase the lead to four but freshman Whitney Hill (Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS) was unable to capitalize as Adams immediately scored on the other end to tie the game 57 all. Nevertheless, a foul by Whitney Johnson sent Rachel Butler (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) to the line to connect two free-throws to give the Pirates a two point advantage (59-57) with 3:42 remaining. However, Adams was unstoppable as she split the blue and white defense and drained a trey giving the Lady Bears a three-point lead with 2:40 to play. Butler answered with a lay-up on a fast break to bring the Pirates back within one, but Adams answered again with an uncontested jumper that sealed the win for the Lady Bears.

In the first half neither team ever led by more that four points as the first 20 minutes rendered seven ties and six lead changes. The Lady Bears jumped out an early four-point lead with 15:32 on the clock until back-to-back jumpers by Butler gave the Lady Pirates their first lead since the games’ opening minutes. MSU registered 15 points off of 17 Pirate turnovers to take a 35-33 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Bears outscored the Pirates 34-22 in the paint but the Hampton bench outscored the Morgan State reserves 25-9.

Stephanie James (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sierra HS) was the leading scorer for the Lady Pirates with 13 points, while Finley added a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Lady Pirates will look to rebound against defending MEAC champion Coppin State on Monday, January 15 at 4:30 p.m on ESPNU.