Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday looking to continue their recent MEAC success, as the Lady Pirates square off against conference rival Coppin State at 4 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (12-4, 3-0 MEAC) defeated Delaware State 79-39 in Dover, Del. this past Saturday, thanks to a 29-point, eight-rebound effort from freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.), as well as 25 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.).

Redshirt-sophomore forward Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md.) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

Tate-DeFreitas was named MEAC Player of the Week for the first time in her career – to go along with her three MEAC Rookie of the Week honors so far this season – and she currently leads the team and ranks fourth in the MEAC in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game.

Bennett is averaging 17.2 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds per contest (fourth-best in the MEAC), while senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) is averaging 13.4 points and a MEAC-best 5.4 assists per contest.

Ward is second on the team and sixth in the MEAC with 8.8 rebounds per game.

The Lady Eagles (6-9, 3-0 MEAC) were picked to finish third in the MEAC this season, receiving a first place vote. Coppin State is in its 15th season under head coach Derek Brown, and the team has won back-to-back games after beating South Carolina State 62-49 on Monday. Senior forward Kyra Coleman leads three players in double figures, averaging 15.1 points per game.

Senior forward Larrisa Carter is averaging 12.7 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game, while senior guard Ashle Craig is pouring in 10.5 points per contest.

The Lady Pirates are 21-15 all-time against Coppin State, and Hampton has won the last four meetings — including all three last season. Coppin State was the last MEAC team to hand the Lady Pirates a loss — a 69-66 overtime decision in Hampton, Va. in 2011-12. Hampton is 8-7 against Coppin State at home.

Hampton is 298-138 against teams currently in the MEAC — including a 21-15 mark against Coppin State — and the Lady Pirates have won six MEAC regular-season titles to go along with seven tournament titles, including each of the last four. Overall, the Lady Pirates have won their last 33 games against MEAC foes, including conference tournament games.

The Lady Pirates were a perfect 11-0 at home last season, and in their four-plus years under head coach David Six, they are 44-7 in the HU Convocation Center. Hampton had not lost at home since Jan. 28, 2012, when they fell 69-66 to Coppin State in overtime, prior to a loss to American back on Dec. 4. Hampton had won 16 straight home games before that defeat.

Hampton is 6-1 at home this season after defeating Virginia Tech 70-60 back on Jan. 1.

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.