BOXSCORE
DAYTONA BEACH-Sophomore forward Chinyere Ukoh (Woodbridge, Va. /Woodbridge HS) posted a game-high 17 points as the visiting Hampton University women’s basketball team rolled over Bethune-Cookman, 67-40, inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.
In the first half, the Lady Wildcats (2-9, 0-3 MEAC) seemed to be taking charge of the game jumping out to an early 4-0 lead during the games’ early minutes. Nevertheless, this would be the only time BCC saw the lead as a jumper by guard Artavia Burns (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) triggered a 28-5 run by the Lady Pirates giving Hampton (6-6, 2-1 MEAC) a 28-9 lead with six minutes left in the half. The infamous Lady Pirate pressure cooker defense held the Lady Wildcats scoreless for nearly ten minutes until a lay-up by Monique Bassett ended the Wildcat’s scoring drought as HU headed into the break with a commanding 30-14 lead.
During the first half of play Hampton converted 16 BCC turnovers into 17 points and produced 15 bench points while the Lady Wildcats received no points from their reserves. Burns was the leading scorer at the break with eight points.
The second half mirrored the first as the Lady Pirates opened the second half with a 20-11 run and never looked back. Hampton saw its biggest lead of the game at 8:52 when the Lady Pirates pushed the lead out to 32 points (61-29).
The HU frontcourt once again proved to be too much for their opponent as the blue and white outscored BCC in the paint 32-20 and out-rebounded the Wildcats 51-32.
Ukoh registered 17 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Stephanie James (Colorado Springs, Colo. /Sierra HS) was on fire from downtown scoring 12 points from behind the arc. Sophomore center Shahara Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Harrisburg, HS) was dominate on the boards with a game-high 11 boards, while senior center Jade Jones (St. Croix, Virgin Islands/Good Hope HS) pulled down nine rebounds.
The Lady Wildcats were led by guard Sierra McKnight’s 13 points and center Cassandra Calcagno with a game-high seven blocked shots.
The Lady Pirates will return to action against Florida A&M on Monday, January 8 in Tallahassee, Fla. At 5:30 p.m.
