BOXSCORE
HAMPTON-Va.-The Hampton University Lady Pirates women’s basketball forced Coppin State into its first overtime game since the 2004-05 season, however HU wasn’t able to hang on as the Lady Eagles extended its win streak over the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to 35 games by defeating Hampton 63-56 on Monday at the Hampton Convocation Center.
The Lady Pirates fall to 7-8 and 3-3 in the MEAC, while the Lady Eagles improve to 10-6 overall and 5-0 in the league.
Coppin State scored the first points of the game but no team led by more than five over the first 10 minutes. A 7-1 run gave the Eagles a six-point lead, but Hampton answered back with a 9-3 run to tie the game at 25 with less than two minutes left in the half. The teams exchanged a pair of free throws before sophomore Ashlee Finley (Harrisburg, Pa. /Harrisburg HS) put delivered a lay-up at the buzzer to give the Pirates a 29-27 lead at halftime.
Tamieka Noel opened the second half with a jumper to tie the game at 29 all. Nevertheless, Finley quickly answered on the other end with a lay-up putting the Lady Pirates back up by two. A trip to the charity stripe and a lay-up Tanezia Harden gave Coppin State is first lead since the two minute mark of the first half (32-31) but junior Rachel Butler (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) nailed a three-pointer that triggered 6-2 run by HU. Trailing by by six with 13 minutes left to play, Sesalie Johnson and Rashida Suber both sunk three-pointers to lead a 7-1 run that brought CSU within one point. Subsequently, Hampton was able to hold on and extended its lead to five at 7:16 until Shalamar Oakley, led a 9-3 Eagle run with four points, including the basket to tie the game with a minute and a half left to play. Coppin State forced a turnover on the defensive end to send the game to overtime. This was the second consecutive overtime contest for the blue and white.
Harden scored the first points of the overtime period giving CSU a two-point lead. Oakley scored from the paint on an inbounds play and Suber sunk four consecutive free throws over the final minute to secure the victory (63-56). Butler was the only Lady Pirate to score during the extra period.
Butler ended the game with a season-high 24 points and seven rebounds, shooting 6-14 from the field and 10-for-12 from the line. Finley dominated the boards on the night with a game-high 12 rebounds and three steals.
Despite going 4-20 on the night, Preseason Player of the Year Suber led the Eagles with 17 points.
The Lady Pirates out rebounded the Eagles 54-40 and connected 19 Coppin State turnovers into 21 points.
The Lady Pirates will look to snap their two-game losing skid as they travel Dover, Del. to face Delaware State on Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m.
