HAMPTON, Va. – Coming into the 2012-13 season, Hampton University's women's basketball program, in its three seasons under head coach David Six, had won 71 games, two MEAC regular-season titles, and three consecutive MEAC Tournament championships – proving to be one of the best programs in Virginia.

But four games into this season, the Lady Pirates look as if they're poised to surpass all of that. Hampton is 4-0 to open a season for the first time in the program's Division I history (dating back to 1995) – and among those four wins are triumphs over Mississippi State and Louisiana State.

That's two wins over two SEC schools in a five-day period.

Oh, and the Lady Pirates followed that up this past Sunday with a 52-point drubbing of Chicago State at the HU Convocation Center. Hampton is once again serving notice to the nation that it is a program worth watching.

Heading into this week's Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands – where the Lady Pirates are set to take on South Carolina, DePaul, and Florida Gulf Coast – Hampton is ranked No. 11 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll (Nov. 13).

Hampton has also proven to be one of the best programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia under Six; in his first three seasons, the Lady Pirates have the second-best overall record among Virginia's 13 Division I programs, behind only James Madison.

Seven of Virginia's 13 Div. I programs have records above .500 in the last three seasons: JMU, Hampton, Liberty, Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth, and Old Dominion. The Lady Pirates have surpassed all but the Dukes.

The Lady Pirates, who finished last season second in the nation in scoring defense, are only allowing 45.5 points per game so far in 2012-13, and teams are only making 29.6 percent of their shots against Hampton. Hampton is also turning its opponents over an average of 25.0 times per game.

Though national rankings won't be available for another week, Hampton ranked first in the MEAC in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense as of Monday.

Senior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) has led the charge, averaging 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest so far this season. She's earned the MEAC Player of the Week award twice so far in 2012-13, and she has four double-doubles to open the year. Dating back to 2011-12, Avant has nine double-doubles in her last 13 games.

She opened the year with a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds at Southern Miss on Nov. 9 – then she poured in 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds at Mississippi State. She then added 19 points and 10 boards against LSU and 24 points and 11 rebounds against Chicago State.

But the Lady Pirates are far from a one-star show.

Junior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.), serving as the team's point guard this season, is already averaging 13.3 points per game to go along with a team-high 7.8 assists per game – including 10 against LSU and a career-high 12 against Chicago State. She has also scored in double figures in three of Hampton's first four games, including a season-high 17 at Southern Miss.

Junior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.)  who played for Six at Hampton High School, is averaging 11.3 points a game through three contests this season – including 16 points against LSU. She also had 14 points at Mississippi State, including a late 3-pointer that stopped a Bulldogs' run and helped Hampton clinch victory.

Then there's sophomore center Verdine Warner (St. Vincent, Grenadines)  who made quite the impression in her Div. I debut on Nov. 9, when she scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high 18 rebounds in a 78-41 win at Southern Miss.

Part of the reason for the Lady Pirates' success under Six is how the program performs on the road. Including this season's wins over Southern Miss and Mississippi State, the Lady Pirates are 32-13 on the road under Six. On top of this season's 2-0 road mark, Hampton was 13-3 on the road last season.

The Lady Pirates were picked to finish second in the MEAC this season behind 2012 tournament runner-up Howard, but Hampton appears poised to continue fighting for dominance in the MEAC – but not before they finish a non-conference slate that includes the Paradise Jam, road games against Maryland Baltimore County, St. Peter's, Virginia Tech, and American, and a home game against Boston College.

And with the 2013 MEAC Basketball Championships in the Lady Pirates' backyard at the Norfolk Scope, there's no reason to think Hampton can't repeat as champions yet again.

In the process, they just might have the best team in Lady Pirates' Div. I history.