DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kendra Cooper scored 13 points as Bethune-Cookman held off a late Hampton rally for a 66-56 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon on Coach Cy Court in Historic Moore Gymnasium.
The Lady Wildcats (15-9 overall, 11-1 MEAC) led 47-24 with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter, but the Pirates' four-quarter run narrowed the lead to 59-56 on Monnaz Finney Smith's lay-up with 1:22 remaining.
Cooper hit a three-pointer with 1:02 left to put the Lady Wildcats up 62-56, then
Emily Williams and Cooper each made two free throws in the final minute to help the Lady Wildcats win their sixth straight and pull closer to a second straight MEAC regular season championship.
Ashanti Hunt scored 12 points and
Taylor Houston 11 as Bethune-Cookman held the Pirates (14-11, 8-4) to 26.8 shooting (19-71) from the field and overcame 35 turnovers.
Bethune-Cookman led from start to finish after jumping out to leads of 7-0 and 12-4. Ahead 25-16 at halftime, the Lady Wildcats made seven of their first ten shots in the third quarter to pull away to their 23 point lead. Cooper and Hunt (five steals) and
Chasimmie Brown combined for 15 of B-CU's third quarter points.
Emily Williams finished with nine points, while freshman
Armani Walker added eight.
Kailyn Williams posted 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Finney-Smith led Hampton with a game-high 22.
HEAD COACH VANESSA BLAIR LEWIS
"This game shows a lot of the resiliency of our team. This was the kind of game we would lose during non-conference"
"This is how Hampton plays ... they make you play sloppy. We were able to withstand their run."
"We followed the game plan."
"The bench has been a rock all season."
KENDRA COOPER
[On her 3 with 1:02 left]: I had not hit a 3 all game. It felt good when I let it go."
"We have to play at our own speed."
TAYLOR HOUSTON
"Coach told me to be aggressive and stop being so passive with the ball."
