Game Notes

ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Hampton University women's basketball team will compete in the 2012 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the gymnasium on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.

The Lady Pirates (4-0) will open play on Thursday against South Carolina at 1:15 p.m. EST, before squaring off against DePaul at the same time on Friday and taking on Florida Gulf Coast at 1:15 p.m. EST on Saturday.

Hampton is off to its best start as a Division I program following Sunday's 87-35 win over Chicago State. Senior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) was named MEAC Player of the Week for the second straight week, recording her fourth double-double of the season against the Panthers with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Dating back to last season, Avant has nine double-doubles in her last 13 games.

South Carolina is 4-0 on the season after beating Clemson 64-43 on Sunday. The Gamecocks have four players averaging in double figures so far in 2012-13, led by 14.0 points per game from senior forward Ashley Bruner, who is also averaging 6.3 rebounds a game. Sophomore forward Aleighsa Welch is the team's top rebounder, grabbing 8.8 boards a night.

DePaul is 3-1 so far this season, having defeated Yale 95-80 on Monday. Four Blue Demons are averaging in double figures so far this season, led by junior forward Jasmine Penny with 16.3 points per game. Senior forward Katherine Harry is pulling down a team-high 12.0 rebounds per contest.

Both South Carolina and DePaul are receiving votes in the USA Today Top 25 poll.

Florida Gulf Coast is 2-1 on the season and ranked No. 7 in CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Top 25 – one stop above the Lady Pirates. The Eagles fell to Charlotte 79-60 on Saturday, and redshirt-junior guard Sarah Hansen leads three Eagles in double figures with 18.7 points per game to go along with a team-high 8.3 rebounds a contest.

The Lady Pirates have never faced South Carolina, DePaul, or Florida Gulf Coast.

Hampton is 3-8 all-time against teams from the SEC – including a pair of wins earlier this season over Mississippi State and LSU. The Lady Pirates' first win against an SEC school came in 2010, when Hampton beat Florida 69-54. Head coach David Six is 3-2 against SEC teams in his career.

The Lady Pirates are 0-2 against Alabama; 0-1 against Arkansas; 1-2 against Florida; 0-1 against Georgia; 0-1 against Kentucky; 1-0 against LSU; 1-0 against Mississippi State; and 0-1 against Vanderbilt.

Hampton is 1-3 all-time against teams from the Big East, including an 0-1 mark against Connecticut, 1-1 against Georgetown, and 0-1 against Louisville.

The Lady Pirates are 1-1 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Sun, with both meetings coming against Jacksonville — including a 68-55 win last season. Hampton has never faced Belmont, East Tennessee State, Florida Gulf Coast, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida, South Carolina Upstate, or Stetson.

Under head coach David Six, the Lady Pirates are 13-3 on neutral courts over the past three-plus seasons — including a 4-1 record in such games last season. The Lady Pirates won all three MEAC Tournament games last season, and also beat Central Michigan on a neutral court.

To learn more about the 2012 Paradise Jam, visit www.paradisejam.com.

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.