HAMPTON, Va. (Dec. 11, 2024) … In a battle of Pirates, the East Carolina Pirates (5-4) topped the Hampton Lady Pirates (2-5) 79-47 before 717 fans at the Hampton Convocation Center in an afternoon matinee. It was Hampton's first game after an 11-day layoff after topping Georgia 76-74 in overtime prior to Hampton's exam break.
With hundreds of wildly cheering local elementary school students on hand, Hampton's Jaysha Clinton's basket to open the game sent the crowd into a frenzy.
But with the score tied 4-4, East Carolina outscored the Hampton 15-4 to take a 19-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. ECU's Jayla Hearp, a Hampton native, scored eight first quarter points to lead the way. Hampton shot 18.8 percent from the first in the opening quarter while East Carolina canned 61.5 percent of its shots.
East Carolina scored the first four points of the second quarter to up the lead to 23-6 and the ECU lead grew to 19. Janae Dublin made six free throws in the second quarter as East Carolina led 35-17. At intermission, Dublin had a team-high eight points and five rebounds for Hampton. ECU's Hearp had 10 points at the half. Hampton shot 20.0 percent from the field in the first two quarters while ECU shot at a 53.8 percent clip. The swarming East Carolina defense forced 11 Hampton turnovers in the second quarter and limited Hampton to 3-of-15 shooting from the field.
Aisha Dabo scored the first basket of the third quarter but Hampton did not score again until Dublin made one of two free throws at the 4:25 mark. A 14-0 run by ECU aided by seven Hampton turnovers made it 48-19 midway through the third quarter. ECU scored the final eight points of the quarter to lead 61-27. East Carolina shot a blistering 81.8 percent from the third in the third period.
Hampton battled on even terms in the fourth quarter outscoring East Carolina 20-18. Hampton outscored ECU 15-8 in the final five minutes led by Dublin's six points in the game's final 2:38. Hampton shot 52.9 percent from the field in the final quarter.
Dublin scored a season-high 18 points and registered a double-double with 10 rebounds. East Carolina had five players score double figures including Amiya Joyner (16), Synia Johnson (12), Hearp (12), Anzhane Hutton (10), and Khia Miller (10). East Carolina shot 62.0 percent from the field while Hampton shot 34.0 percent. East Carolina scored 46 of its 79 points in the paint and forced 28 Hampton turnovers.
Hampton returns to action with a Dec. 17 matchup against Gardner-Webb at the Hampton Convocation Center at 7:00 p.m. in the last home game until 2025.
