Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will make its 2011-12 home debut on Saturday, as the Lady Pirates play host to South Carolina State at 6 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center.

The game will also be the conference opener for both teams.

The Lady Pirates (4-1, 0-0 MEAC) concluded a four-game road trip on Monday with a 66-39 win at Chicago State for their second straight win. Senior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) led the way with 21 points – her second straight 20-point effort – while senior forward Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 19 points.

Hampton's next win will be the 50th for head coach David Six in his brief coaching career; following Monday's win at Chicago State, Six is 49-20 in his collegiate coaching career, which spans just over two seasons.

Six, the reigning MEAC Coach of the Year, has a .710 winning percentage with the Lady Pirates.

South Carolina State (2-3, 0-0 MEAC) has lost three of its last four games following an 85-48 loss at Georgia on Wednesday. Junior guard Tiara Knotts and senior forward Tracey Flowers each had 10 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Bulldogs finished the 2010-11 season with a 14-19 record, going 5-11in conference play to come in eighth in the MEAC. South Carolina State, under fourth-year head coach Doug Robertson, returns four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad and was picked to finish ninth in the MEAC.

Knotts leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.8 points a contest as the only Lady Bulldog in double figures. She's scored in double figures three times so far this season, including a season-high 28 against Charleston Southern on Nov. 26. Junior forward Tiana Hemphill leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 9.2 boards per game.

South Carolina State is averaging just 56.0 points per game on offense, while giving up 69.0 points per contest.

Hampton is 24-10 all-time against South Carolina State, and the Lady Pirates have won the last six meetings — including a 78-55 decision in the MEAC Tournament quarterfinals last season. SCSU last beat Hampton on Feb. 16, 2008, when the Lady Bulldogs escaped the HU Convocation Center with a 64-61 win. In all, the Lady Pirates have won nine of the last 10 meetings, and Hampton is 11-4 against South Carolina State at home.

The Lady Pirates are 267-128 all-time against teams currently in the MEAC. Hampton has faced every team currently in the conference except for newcomer Savannah State, and the Lady Pirates have a winning record against every other conference team.

In addition, Hampton has won or shared regular-season MEAC titles four times (1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2010-11) and claimed five MEAC Tournament crowns (2000, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011).

Under Six, the Lady Pirates are a combined 20-5 at the HU Convocation Center over the past two seasons — including a 10-2 mark at home last season and a 10-3 mark in 2009-10. Hampton has won 10 straight at home dating back to last season.

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.