Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team fell to the Lady Eagles of Coppin State 58-52 on Saturday afternoon at the HU Convocation Center to open the heart of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.

After Quanneisha Perry (Decatur, Ga.) sank a free throw with 4:18 to play to tie the game at 47-47, Jeanine Manley gave the lead back to Coppin State at the 4:03 mark with a layup – and from there, the Lady Eagles closed on an 11-5 run down the stretch, making five of 10 free throw tries within the final 1:23.

Laura Lewis (Dallas, Texas) drained a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining, which was Hampton's first field goal since a Ryen Henry (Midlothian, Va.) layup with 6:04 to play.

The Lady Pirates (4-9, 0-2 MEAC) opened the second half of a 13-4 run, taking a 36-31 lead with 13:55 to play after Lewis made a layup. But Coppin State (4-8, 1-1 MEAC) responded with a 12-3 run when Manley converted a 3-point play with 9:06 remaining.

Whitney Hill (Hampton, Va.) led the Lady Pirates with 20 points on 6-for-19 shooting and a 7-for-10 effort from the free throw line, and freshman Breanna Jones (Springfield, Va.) led Hampton with 12 rebounds. The Lady Pirates shot 24.2 percent (16-for-66) from the floor, making just three of 15 shots from behind the arc. Hampton was also just 17-for-26 (65.4 percent) from the free throw line.

Leola Spotwood led Coppin State with 18 points behind four 3-pointers and a team-high eight rebounds, with Crystal Whittington adding 12 points. The Lady Eagles shot 40.4 percent (21-for-52) from the floor, and 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) from behind the arc.

Coppin State out-rebounded Hampton 50-43, though the Lady Pirates forced the Lady Eagles into 32 turnovers.

The Lady Pirates opened the game on a 6-0 run, and Coppin State didn't hit its first field goal until Crystal Whittington hit a layup with 13:45 left in the first half. Hampton would lead by as many as six, 17-11, after Hill hit a 3-pointer with 7:08 left in the half, but the Lady Eagles rallied back to take a 21-19 lead on a jumper from Johnson with 3:36 left in the half.

Coppin State closed the first half on a 13-6 run to take a 27-23 lead into the intermission – despite turning the ball over 18 times. The Lady Eagles shot 38.5 percent (10-for-26) from the floor and 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Spotwood led Coppin State with 12 points in the first half, and LaQuisha Lewis had a team-high four rebounds.

Coppin State also held a 22-17 rebounding edge at the half.

Hampton shot just 23.1 percent (6-for-26) from the floor in the first half. Hill led the Lady Pirates with nine first-half points, while Jones had six rebounds.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they face Morgan State at the HU Convocation Center at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU. 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.