Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va.-The Hampton University women’s basketball returns to action Saturday when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C. to be hosted by South Carolina State. Hampton is off to a solid start at 8-8 overall (3-4 MEAC) and a win against the Lady Bulldogs will extend the Lady Pirates’ road winning streak to five games.

In their last time out the Lady Pirates downed the Lady Hornets of Delaware State 58-52 in Dover, Del. The Lady Pirates shot a season-high 71 percent (20-28) from the free-throw line en route to their six-point come from behind victory. The blue and white had three players in double figures led by Rachel Butler’s (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) 12 points and seven rebounds. Whitney Hill (Hampton, Va. /Phoebus HS) and Courtnie McKinney (St. Louis, Mo. /University City HS) added 11 points apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs (4-14, 2-6 MEAC) will enter the game on the heels of a tough loss to Coppin State, 53-64. Freshman guard Sophilia Hipps posted 17 points to lead the SCSU in scoring for seventh time this season.

This will be the 24th time in history that these two teams will meet with Hampton owning the series 15-9. The last time these teams met the Lady Bulldogs used an inspired second quarter and some much-needed inside scoring down the stretch to defeat the Lady Pirates 67-66 in the Smith Hammond Middleton Memorial Center. Hampton stormed back late in the see-saw battle to cut the Lady Bulldog lead to 63-62 on Butlers fourth three-pointer of the game with 1:24 remaining, but a Melaney Denson lay-up and two Latoya Dent free throws with under 15 seconds remaining secured the Lady Bulldog victory.

The Lady Pirates were led in scoring by Butler with 22 points.

The Lady Bulldogs were led in scoring by Denson with a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds to complete SCSU’s season sweep of the Pirates. The Bulldogs also defeated Hampton on January 28 75-62 in the HU Convocation Center .