BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University women's basketball team overcame a sluggish start to run past Coppin State 76-50 at the Physical Education Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates (12-3, 4-0 MEAC) picked up their third straight win and snapped Coppin State's five-game winning streak.

Sophomore guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) led the Lady Pirates with 18 points on a perfect 5-for-5 effort from 3-point range, while senior forward Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 17 points.

Senior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) poured in 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while sophomore forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) added 14 points – all in the first half – and a team-high 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double and fourth overall.

Senior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) tallied six assists, leaving her one shy of 500 for her career.

Coppin State took early control, going up 12-3 at the 13:53 mark after a Shawntae Payne jumper. Hampton answered with seven straight points, closing to within 12-10 with 11:30 left in the first half after a Warner 3-pointer.

Ashle Craig gave Coppin State a 17-11 lead at the 8:37 mark with a free throw, but the Lady Pirates scored seven unanswered points to take an 18-17 lead at the 5:31 mark on a McMillian layup. Crystal Whittington gave lead back to Coppin State with 5:04 left in the half with a jumper, but when Hamilton hit a trey with 4:42 left, the Lady Pirates never looked back.

In all, Hampton closed the half on a 25-7 run to take a 36-24 lead into the half. The Lady Pirates shot 50.0 percent (13-for-26) in the first half, scoring 10 points off 14 Coppin State turnovers.

Coppin State closed to within nine, 36-29, at the 17:29 mark of the second half on a Payne 3-pointer, but Hampton answered with eight straight points to go up 46-29 with 15:15 left on a McMillian trey.

Hampton's largest lead came with 6:32 left in the game, when Warner hit another 3-pointer. After that, the Lady Eagles could get no closer than within 20, 70-50, after Jeanine Manley hit one of two free throws.

Hampton went 7-for-12 from behind the arc in the second half.

The Lady Pirates shot 48.1 percent (25-for-52) from the floor, while also shooting a season-best 66.7 percent (12-for-18) from 3-point range. Hampton also out-rebounded Coppin State 35-29, and the Lady Pirates are undefeated when winning the battle of the boards this season.

Hampton also forced the Lady Eagles into 27 turnovers, turning them into 24 points.

Coppin State (7-10, 2-2 MEAC) shot 40.4 percent (19-for-47) from the floor, making just two of its nine 3-pointers and 10 of its 17 free throws.

Manley and Whittington each had 13 points to lead Coppin State.

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Monday, when they take on Morgan State at 4 p.m. at the Talmadge Hill Field House. 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.