Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Hampton University women's basketball team (15-11, 10-4 MEAC) bounced back into the win column Monday night, defeating the Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M 65-48 at the Al Lawson Center. 

The Lady Pirates took control of the game from the tip to the final buzzer. A 3-point shot by Bernadette Fortune (Virginia Beach, Va.) gave the Lady Pirates a 41-23 lead at the 18:12 mark of the second half. Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.), playing in her hometown, hit a 14-foot jumper to give the Lady Pirates a 51-29 lead at the 12:49 mark. Freshman Delia Brunson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) gave the Lady Pirates their largest lead in the game 62-37 with an 8-foot jumper from the baseline at the 4:43 mark. The Lady Rattlers' Qiana Donald scored nine straight points in the last four minutes; however, it was not enough to calm the storm. 

The Lady Pirates went on a 20-4 run to start off the first half that last over eight minutes; it ended with a steal from Warner and a lay-up by Fortune. The Lady Rattlers got within nine with a 3-pointer by Deidra Jones, but that was the closest they got to the Lady Pirates. Freshman Breanna Jones (Springfield, Va.) ended the first half with a lay-up to give the Lady Pirates a 36-21 lead going into the intermission. 

The Lady Pirates were led by Fortune with 17 points and four assists. Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) had 12 points, while Quanneisha Perry (Decatur, Ga.) had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) had six points and a career-high 10 assists.

 “Today I know I had to take care of the basketball; I had a lot of turnovers in the lost to (Bethune) Cookman,“ said Fortune. “We just played how we are capable of playing tonight. We took better care of the basketball tonight, as well as executing and playing better defense. “ 

The Lady Pirates redeemed themselves through defense by forcing 27 turnovers and recording 12 steals. 

Hampton shot 42.3 percent from the field and 60 percent behind the 3-point line; the Lady Rattlers shot 34 percent from the floor and 25 percent from behind the arc. 

The Lady Rattlers were led by Donald, who had 19 points and seven rebounds. 

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Saturday, when they face the Lady Hornets of Delaware State at 4 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center. For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please call Derrick Coles, Assistant Sports Information Director, at (757) 727-5906, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.