Hampton University
Norfolk State
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Jones’ jumper vaults Hampton past the Lady Spartans at the buzzer
2.21.07 | Women's Basketball
HAMPTON-Va.-The Hampton University Convocation Center was full of excitement as senior Jade Jones’ (St. Croix, U.S.V.I./ Good Hope HS) bucket at the buzzer lifted Hampton (13-11, 9-6 MEAC) past Norfolk State (4-21, 3-12 MEAC) 60-58.
HU led by as many as eight in the second half before Norfolk State began to chip away at the lead, cutting it to four (50-46) with 10:36 on the clock. Nevertheless lay-ups by Whitney Hill (Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS) and Artavia Burns (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) pushed the Pirate lead to back to eight with 9:13 remaining. Both teams traded baskets until a lay-up Ashley Compton fueled a 10-2 run by the Lady Spartans, giving them a two point advantage with 2:35 ticks remaining. However, the Pirates tied the game on the charity stripe thanks to two good free-throws by Hill at 1:55. Following a Hampton timeout, both teams missed opportunities to take the lead down with Hill Spartan Tiffany Jenkins and Hill missing important baskets. However it was the blue and white with the final possession as Hill drove to the hoop only to see the shot bounce off the rim to be haled down by Jones as she laid it in at the buzzer.
In the first half, the Lady Pirates came out steady and got some inside scoring from sophomore Chinyere Ukoh who had seven first stanza points. As a team HU shot a much improved 40 percent (11-27) from the field 70 percent from the free-throw line (14-20). The Spartans exploded in to the game on a 9-3 run led by the sharp-shooting of guard Toia Johnson. However the Pirates quickly answered 8-2 run to tie the contest at 15 all with 11:42 ticks left in the first half. The lead changed three more times before a lay-up by Hill with .13 remaining gave Hampton a two point advantage (38-36) at intermission.
Jones led three Lady Pirates in double figures with a season-high 10 points and a game-11 high rebounds. Hill and Rachel Butler (Dallas Texas/Lincoln HS) added 10 points apiece.
The Lady Spartans were led on the night by Areya Walker’s 21 points and eight rebounds. Toia Johnson chipped in with 15 points and four steals.
Hampton will return to the court on Saturday, February 24 to host South Carolina State at 4 p.m.
