Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will return home looking for its third straight win on Saturday, when the Lady Pirates take on Norfolk State at the HU Convocation Center at 4 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (10-5, 3-0 MEAC), in their second season under head coach David Six, won their second straight game in convincing fashion on Monday, as they beat Morgan State 68-37 at the Hill Field House. Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.), the MEAC Rookie of the Week, led the way with 17 points, while junior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) added 16 points and junior forward Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.) poured in 14 points.

Norfolk State (6-6, 0-3 MEAC) lost its second straight game on Monday, an 81-72 decision to Florida A&M at Echols Hall. Junior guard Sarah Daily led the Spartans with a career-high 23 points, while junior guard Whitney Long poured in 14 points and freshman guard Rae Corbo added 12 points.

Hampton is 46-33 all-time against Norfolk State and has won the last eight meetings between the two teams. Last season, the Lady Pirates defeated the Spartans 63-59 in overtime at Echols Hall on Jan. 16, 2010, before winning 68-47 at the HU Convocation Center on Feb. 13, 2010. The first game in Lady Pirates history was against Norfolk State, with the Spartans winning 66-39 on Dec. 2, 1975; Norfolk State went on to win the first nine meetings in the series, before Hampton won 72-48 on Jan. 14, 1980. Norfolk State has not beaten Hampton since taking a 70-66 decision in Echols Hall on Dec. 2, 2006. Hampton is 20-12 against Norfolk State at home, including a 12-2 mark at the HU Convocation Center.

The Spartans went 4-23 last season in head coach Debra Clark's first year, going 0-16 in MEAC play. In returning four starters and six letterwinners from last year's squad, Norfolk State was picked to finish 11th in the MEAC this season.

Long leads two Spartans in double figures in scoring with 13.6 points per game, and she'd led the team in scoring in five of its 12 contests. Corbo is averaging 10.6 points per contest, while sophomore forward Marian Brooks and freshman forward Rachel Gordon are each pulling down a team-high 6.4 rebounds per contest for Norfolk State.

The Spartans are averaging 62.5 points per game on offense, while giving up just 64.8 points a night.

After beating IPFW 78-77 in double overtime on Dec. 19, 2010, the Lady Pirates are 3-2 at the HU Convocation Center so far this season. The Lady Pirates were 10-3 at the HU Convocation Center last season, winning their last seven home contests. Hampton went 7-1 at home in MEAC games last season, and Six is 13-5 in his career as a head coach at home.

Following Saturday's contest, the Lady Pirates will take on North Carolina A&T on Monday at the HU convocation Center at 6 p.m. 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.