Feb. 3, 2007

Final Stats

Hampton, Va. - The Hampton University women's basketball team improved to 10-9 on the season and 6-4 in the MEAC by defeating Bethune-Cookman College 62-48 inside the HU Convocation Center on Saturday night.

It was a big night for Hampton guard Rachel Butler as she scored 13 points, including her 1,000th career point with 2:11 left in the first half. She becomes the 20th player in the history of the women's basketball program to reach the 1,000 point plateau. Teammate Stephanie James also posted a big night with a career-high 18-points with 15 from downtown.

After falling to North Carolina A&T on Monday night, the Lady Pirates of HU came back to win their first MEAC home contest.

Leading 27-20 at the half, Hampton rolled along through the second half with points from the bench and turnovers. The Hampton reserves outscored the Lady Wildcat bench 30-5 in the second stanza while taking advantage of 11 Lady Wildcat turnovers in order to score 20 second half points.

With the lead growing to as many as eight (42-34) with 12:35 left in the contest, Bethune-Cookman (4-16, 1-9 MEAC) put together a nice run that eventually cut the Lady Pirates' lead down to two (44-42). A basket by the Wildcats' Tristan McCray and a lay-up by Cassandra Calcagno brought some spark to the visitors. But down the stretch the HU backcourt took charge and posted a 17-6 run over the next six minutes to run away with the victory.

In the first half, the Wildcats--who have now lost six straight jumped out to an early 12-7 lead with 11:58 ticks left. Nevertheless, the Pirates quickly answered with a 9-2 run to give HU the lead (14-12) at 9:04. BCC responded with a 6-3 spurt of their own to give them a one point advantage (18-17) with 4:52 on the clock. However Butler's lay-up at 2:11 sealed the lead for the Lady Pirates as they took a seven point advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman were topped in scoring on the night by McCray and Calcagno with 13 points apiece.

Bethune-Cookman will continue their Tidewater tour on Monday night when they travel to Norfolk State at 5:30 pm. The contest is set to take place at Echols Hall in Norfolk, Va.