DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – There's a cliché about the best offense is a good defense, or something like that. For Ashanti Hunt, it was a matter of her best defense creating her best offensive night of her career in Monday's 71-52 victory over Coppin State.

Charged with shutting Coppin State's leading scorer, Hunt did just that AND pumped in a career-high 18 points as the Lady Wildcats improved to a first-ever 3-0 start in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and concluded their "home away from home" slate a perfect 5-0.

The sophomore held CSU's Genesis Lucas – is that a great basketball name or what? – scoreless to the tune of 0-13 from the field. Okay, Kenna Samuels did score 27 for Coppin State, but had little impact in a game Bethune-Cookman (7-8 overall, 3-0 MEAC) controlled from the outset.

Hunt's defense set up her offense – most of her baskets came off turnovers and in transition as she finished  7-9 from the field and 4-5 from the line.

"I take pride in my defense," Hunt said. "I like the challenge. Tonight was about keeping a hand in the passing lane and keeping [Lucas] in front of me. I tend to struggle some on offense but playing defense puts me in the right mind."

Hunt has come on strong during the conference games. She was the most consistent Lady Wildcat in last Wednesday's slobberknocker at Savannah State – she led the team in scoring – and contributed seven  rebounds in Saturday's Morgan State escape.

"Her task is being able to defend their best scorer," B-CU Head Coach Vanessa Blair Lewis said of Hunt. "Her prowess comes from defense."

 Already comfortably ahead 55-40 entering the fourth quarter, Bethune-Cookman scored the period's 16 points to eliminate any late drama and allowed the Lady Cats to clear the bench. The final point total was B-CU's third best of the season.

"We're capable of scoring high 60s or 70s. That hasn't happened for a myriad of reasons," Blair Lewis said. "You can play good defense every night. It's why we've been successful the past three games. We've had trouble trying to score consistently, so we've been focusing on defense. If we're not having a great night, we're not going to let you have one either."

This was the Lady Wildcats' sixth consecutive regular season conference win dating back to last season as they prepare for a two-game swing through South Carolina State and Florida before finally playing in Moore Gym Jan. 21 vs. UMES.   

"The girls have weathered a lot of storms … the gym situation has made us like the Globetrotters," Blair Lewis said. "We've been able to focus and hone in our goals and one of those is to go undefeated in conference and get back where we were. This win is a part of it."