DURHAM, N.C. – The Hampton University women's basketball team closed out the regular season on Thursday at the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, beating North Carolina Central 86-35 to clinch the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular-season title.

The Lady Pirates (23-4, 15-1 MEAC) clinched the second straight MEAC regular-season crown and closed out the regular season on an eight-game winning streak. Hampton has also won its last eight road games.

Senior guards Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) and Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) each had 18 points to lead the Lady Pirates, while sophomore guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) added 12 points and sophomore forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) poured in 10 points.

Jenkins added seven assists, while Bennett pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to a quick 16-4 lead, taking that edge at the 13:09 mark after a jumper from Bennett.

McMillian became the 23rd Lady Pirate to reach the 1,000-point mark with a 3-pointer at the 6:21 mark of the first half to put Hampton up 32-11. With 11 first-half points, McMillian went into the break with 1,002 career points.

The Lady Pirates led by as many as 26 in the first half, going up 41-15 after a basket from junior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.). Hampton went into the half with a 43-19 lead, thanks mostly to 11 points each from McMillian and Jenkins.

Jenkins also had five first-half assists.

The Lady Pirates shot 43.9 percent (18-for-41) from the floor in the first half, while also hitting six of their 16 3-pointers. Hampton also forced 15 NCCU turnovers in the first half, negating the Lady Eagles' 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from the floor.

Hampton opened the second half on a 7-0 run, taking a 50-19 lead with 18:53 to play after Jenkins buried a mid-range jumper. NCCU fought back with five unanswered points before senior center Sherena Abercrumbia (Dallas, Texas) stopped the run with a layup at the 17:03 mark to put Hampton up 52-24.

A Jenkins breakaway layup with 15:57 to play put Hampton up by 30, 54-24.

Bennett's stickback with 12:02 to play put the Lady Pirates up 67-24 and capped off a run of 17 unanswered points. The run extended to 21-0 when junior forward Delia Brunson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) hit a stickback with 9:58 to play to put Hampton up 71-24.

NCCU went eight and a half minutes in the second half without scoring, before Chasidy Williams hit a pair of free throws with 9:00 to play to cut Hampton's lead to 71-26.

Eleven of NCCU's 16 second-half points came at the free throw line, as the Lady Pirates held the Lady Eagles to just two second-half field goals.

The Lady Pirates shot 44.9 percent (35-for-78) from the floor, making 10 of their 29 3-pointers and all six free throws. Hampton also held a42-27 edge on the boards and forced NCCU into 33 turnovers.

NCCU (3-26, 1-15 MEAC) shot just 28.1 percent (9-for-32) from the floor and went just 2-for-10 from distance.

Williams led the Lady Eagles with 12 points.

The 2012 MEAC Basketball Tournament will start on Monday at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C., and run through Saturday. To learn more, visit the official tournament website at www.MEAChoops.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.