Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will cross the James River in search of its sixth straight win on Saturday, as the Lady Pirates take on Norfolk State at Echols Hall at 4 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (17-6, 9-1 MEAC), in their second season under head coach David Six, picked up their fifth straight win with a 79-44 defeat of North Carolina Central on Monday at the HU Convocation Center. Sophomore forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) set career highs with 17 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) recorded her second straight double-double with 17 points and 11 assists. Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) came off the bench to score 10 points.

Norfolk State (8-12, 1-9 MEAC) has lost four straight after falling 66-48 at Delaware State on Monday. Freshman guard Rae Corbo and junior guard Sarah Daily each led the Lady Spartans with 13 points, while Sophomore forward Marian Brooks added 10 points off the bench. Brooks and sophomore center Batavia Owens each pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Hampton is 47-33 all-time against Norfolk State and has won the last nine meetings between the two teams, including a 75-54 decision at the HU Convocation Center this past Jan. 15. Last season, the Lady Pirates defeated the Spartans 63-59 in overtime at Echols Hall on Jan. 16, 2010, before winning 68-47 at the HU Convocation Center on Feb. 13, 2010. The first game in Lady Pirates history was against Norfolk State, with the Spartans winning 66-39 on Dec. 2, 1975; Norfolk State went on to win the first nine meetings in the series, before Hampton won 72-48 on Jan. 14, 1980. Norfolk State has not beaten Hampton since taking a 70-66 decision in Echols Hall on Dec. 2, 2006. Hampton is 17-15 against Norfolk State on the road and has won the last three meetings at Echols Hall.

The Lady Pirates have gone 10 straight games without giving up 60 points, including back-to-back games in which they've given up a season-low 29 points against Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore. Hampton is giving up just 44.4 points per game in that span, compiling an 9-1 record, and the Lady Pirates lead the MEAC and sit 12th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 52.8 points a contest this season. Hampton is also first in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 36.0 percent shooting.

The Spartans went 4-23 last season in head coach Debra Clark's first year, going 0-16 in MEAC play. In returning four starters and six letterwinners from last year's squad, Norfolk State was picked to finish 11th in the MEAC this season.

Junior guard Whitney Long leads the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 points per contest, while Corbo is pouring in 10.1 points per contest. Brooks is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 6.2 boards a night.

The Lady Spartans are scoring 59.9 points a night, while giving up 65.2 points per game.

Following Saturday's game, the Lady Pirates will head to Greensboro, N.C. to take on North Carolina A&T on Monday 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.