HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team closed out the 2012-13 regular season with its 16th straight win on Monday, beating North Carolina Central 51-30 at the HU Convocation Center.

The Lady Pirates (25-5, 16-0 MEAC) went unbeaten in the MEAC for the first time in program history and became the first MEAC team to run the table in conference play since Coppin State in 2006-07.

Hampton also went 11-0 at home this season.

Senior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) led the Lady Pirates with 22 points and 10 rebounds, recording her 19th double-double of the season, tops in the MEAC. She was 10-for-15 from the floor and grabbed four offensive rebounds.

Senior guard Olivia Allen (Kildeer, Ill.) had nine points.

The Lady Pirates opened the game on a 15-0 run, taking that lead at the 12:15 mark on a jumper from junior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.). NCCU did not hit its first field goal until the 11:33 mark, when Chasidy Williams got the Lady Eagles on the board with a layup.

An Avant layup at the 10:39 mark gave the Lady Pirates a 20-2 lead.

Freshman guard Ryan Jordan (Manassas, Va.) hit a jumper with 5:22 left in the first half to put Hampton up 27-7, and the Lady Pirates took a 31-13 lead into the locker room – thanks largely to holding NCCU to just four first-half field goals.

In fact, NCCU had more first-half free throws (five) than field goals. The Lady Eagles also committed 18 first-half turnovers, resulting in 15 Hampton points.

Hampton then opened the second half on an 11-2 run, taking a 42-15 lead with 10:51 left to play on a layup from Avant. The Lady Pirates' largest lead of the game came with 4:58 left, when senior forward Ariel Phelps (Virginia Beach, Va.) hit a jumper to put Hampton up 48-20.

Freshman guard Shellis Hampton (Grand Rapids, Mich.) banked in a 3-pointer at the 3:56 mark to give the Lady Pirates a 51-23 lead.

The Lady Pirates shot 36.2 percent (21-for-58) from the floor and made two of 10 3-pointers. Hampton was also 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) from the free throw line, while also turning 25 NCCU turnovers into 22 points.

Hampton also held a 32-14 edge in the paint.

NCCU (2-27, 2-14 MEAC) shot just 25.0 percent (10-for-40) from the floor and missed its only 3-point attempt of the night. The Lady Eagles did hold a 38-33 edge on the glass.

Williams led NCCU with 13 points.

The Lady Pirates will play in the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament on Wednesday at Norfolk Scope, taking on the winner of the No. 8-No. 9 first round game at 12 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.