Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday to kick off a three-game homestand to end the regular season, beginning with a tilt against Florida A&M at 4 p.m.

Hampton's championship banners from last season will be unveiled on Saturday as well.

The Lady Pirates (22-5, 13-0 MEAC) won their 13th straight game on Monday by beating Delaware State 49-41. Senior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.), the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the season.

FAMU (10-16, 7-6 MEAC) fell 63-46 to South Carolina State on Monday, despite 15 points each from junior guards Jasmine Grice and Kimberly Sparkman. Junior guard/forward Patrice Collie added a team-high nine rebounds in the loss.

The Lady Rattlers went 22-8 last season, finishing third in the MEAC with a mark of 14-2 before falling in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament. Florida A&M, in its fifth season under head coach LeDawn Gibson, returns two starters and was picked to finish fourth in the MEAC this season.

Grice leads the Lady Rattlers in scoring with 21.7 points per game to go along with 6.8 rebounds per contest, while Sparkman is averaging 14.4 points per game. Sophomore forward/center Jamie Foreman is the team's top rebounder, grabbing 7.8 boards a night.

FAMU is averaging just 61.3 points per game on offense, while giving up 66.2 points per contest.

Hampton is 21-10 all-time against Florida A&M, and the Lady Pirates have won the last six meetings — including a 46-43 win last season in Tallahassee, Fla. Overall, Hampton has won 15 of the last 18 meetings. The Lady Pirates are 10-4 against Florida A&M at home.

Since joining the MEAC in 1995-96, the Lady Pirates have won five regular-season and six tournament titles — including each of the last three under head coach David Six. Hampton has a winning record against every MEAC team.

Hampton's first regular-season MEAC title came in 1998-99, and the Lady Pirates first won the MEAC Tournament, and its corresponding NCAA bid, in 2000.

With a win on Saturday, the Lady Pirates will clinch their third straight MEAC regular-season title.

Under Six, the Lady Pirates are 37-6 at the HU Convocation Center over the past three-plus seasons — including a 9-1 record at home last season. Hampton's lone home loss last season came in overtime against Coppin State, 69-66 on Jan. 28.

Prior to that loss, the Lady Pirates had won 16 straight home games. The Lady Pirates are 8-0 at home so far this season, following an 83-42 win over Norfolk State on Feb. 18, and their current 11-game home winning streak is tied for 12th in the nation as of Feb. 24.

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.