Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. -- The Hampton University women's basketball team (17-11, 12-4 MEAC) made it three wins in a row Thursday evening, defeating the Lady Bison of Howard 55-43 at the HU Convocation Center to celebrate Senior Night and close out the regular season. 

The Lady Pirates knew what they needed to do, and they did. The Lady Pirates went up by five (7-2) with a jumper by Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.) at the 17:25 mark of the first half. The Lady Pirates continued to pour it on in the first with a 24-7 run, which ended with a jumper by Bernadette Fortune (Virginia Beach, Va.) at the 6:16 mark. The Lady Bison got within 11 (26-15) with a 3-pointer by Cheyenne Curley-Payne at the 1:59 mark of the first half. An off-balance jumper by Laura Lewis (Dallas, Texas) at the buzzer gave the Lady Pirates a 28-15 lead going into halftime. 

The defense was big in the first half, forcing 15 turnovers and scoring 20 points off Lady Bison mistakes. 

In the second half, Lewis started with a jumper to give the Lady Pirates a 30-17 lead at the 17:52 mark. After exchanging buckets throughout the second half, the Lady Pirates went a little over nine minutes without a shot made; the Lady Bison got within five with a layup by Kara Smith at the 2:34 mark. But made free throws by Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) down the stretch and two big treys by Warner with under a minute left gave the Lady Pirates the No. 2 seed going in to the MEAC Tournament. 

Warner led the team with a career-high 21 points and team-high four steals. Jenkins contributed with 10 points and a team-high six assists.

“There wasn't much thinking tonight; we just went out and played. We had to be aggressive, win this game for Whitney (Hill),” said Warner.

“It means everything to win on Senior Night. Getting the #2 seed is even better” said Hill, who had three points in her last regular-season game. 

The Lady Pirates shot 39.1 percent (18-for-46) percent from the floor and 93.8 percent from the free throw line (15-for-16). Hampton forced the Lady Bison to shoot 12.5 percent from the 3-point line. The 

The Lady Bison were led by the MEAC Rookie of the Year Saadia Doyle, who had 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

The Lady Pirates will head to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the 2010 MEAC Tournament, in which they will have a first-round bye for being the No. 2 seed. 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.