MIAMI, Fla. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will close out the 2009 portion of its schedule on Monday and Tuesday by competing in the Florida International Sun & Fun Classic, held at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

The Lady Pirates (3-7) will be joined by Georgia Tech, Bryant and tournament host FIU. This will be the 25th annual tournament; FIU has won a record 12 tournament titles, and Marist won last year's event. This will be Hampton's first year competing in the Sun & Fun Classic.

Hampton has never faced Georgia Tech, Bryant or FIU.

Hampton will face off against Georgia Tech on Monday at 7 p.m., before playing again on Tuesday against either Bryant or FIU at either 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. in the championship game. The Lady Pirates are coming off a 63-43 win over Radford on Dec. 23 that snapped a seven-game losing streak, while Georgia Tech beat Georgia State 62-50 on Dec. 22 for its fifth straight win. FIU fell to Florida-Gulf Coast 76-62 on Dec. 22 for its second loss in three games, and Bryant lost its third straight game, 78-61, to Lehigh on Dec. 20.

The Lady Pirates broke a seven-game losing streak on Dec. 23 with a 63-43 home win over Radford, while Georgia Tech has won five straight games following a 62-50 win over Georgia State on Dec. 22. Bryant has lost three straight after a 78-61 loss to Lehigh on Dec. 20, and FIU has lost two of its last three after a 76-62 loss to Florida-Gulf Coast on Dec. 22.

The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 24 in the nation and picked to finish seventh in the ACC, are 10-2 so far this season, riding a five-game winning streak. Senior forward Brigitte Ardossi leads four players in double figures in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game to go along with a team-high 6.5 rebounds per contest. Junior guard/forward Alex Montgomery is pouring in 12.3 points a night to go along with 5.3 rebounds, while junior guard Deja Foster is averaging 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest. Sophomore guard Mo Bennett is averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds a contest.

The Yellow Jackets are scoring 69.2 points a game as a team, while only giving up 52.2 a night. Georgia Tech is also holding a 44.2-32.5 rebounding edge per contest.

Bryant, picked to finish 10th in the NEC this season, comes into the FIU Sun & Fun Classic with a 3-7 record, having lost three straight. Junior forward Siamone Bennett is leading the Bulldogs in scoring this season, averaging 11.3 points a contest to go along with a team-high 7.6 rebounds a night. Senior guard/forward Kelsey O'Keefe is pouring in 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a contest, while sophomore guard Lekia Cowen is averaging 9.2 points a game.

As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging just 57.4 points a game, while giving up 64.7 a night. Bryant is out-rebounding its opponents by a 42.8-37.3 margin per game.

FIU, picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt East Division, is 5-6 overall this season, having lost two of its last three games. Senior guard Monika Bosilj, a Preseason Second Team All-Sun Belt selection, is one of four Golden Panthers in double figures in scoring, averaging a team-high 12.9 points a game. Junior guard Michelle Gonzalez is averaging 11.9 points a contest, while redshirt-junior forward Elisa Carey is averaging 11.8 points and 9.0 rebounds a night. Senior forward Marquita Adley is averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 12.3 rebounds per game.

FIU is averaging 62.4 points a game on offense, while the defense is giving up 63.5 points a night. The Golden Panthers hold a 37.8-34.7 rebounding edge per game.

The Sun & Fun Classic will close out non-conference play for the Lady Pirates; they'll return to action on Jan. 9, when they welcome Coppin State to the HU Convocation Center to open the bulk of MEAC play. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.