HAMPTON, Va. – A 17-2 blitz in the first five minutes on Monday night provided a working margin as the Hampton University Lady Pirates ran their winning streak to eight games with a 78-54 victory over Coppin State on Monday night at the HU Convocation Center.

Freshman Ashley Bates had season-highs in points (18) and steals (5) to lead four in double figures.  Sophomore DeJane' James added 13 points, while freshman Adria Strothers went 4-of-5 from 3-point range for a season-high 12 points and junior Monnazjea Finney-Smith had 10.  Mikayla Sayle topped the team on the boards with a career-high eight.

Hampton is now 13-7 on the season and 7-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action, while Coppin State is 4-16 and 4-4 in MEAC play.

The Lady Pirates scored the first five points of the game as Bates hit a layup and then free throws from Chanel Green and a lair from Kaylah Lupoe put Hampton ahead with 7:22 left in the first.  A jumper from Chance Graham put the Eagles on the board a few seconds later, which Hampton responded with the next 12 points to lead 17-2 on a 3-point play by Bates with 5:24 left in the first.

Coppin State used a couple buckets from Oluwaseun Adeniji to trim the deficit to 18-6 with 1:56 left.  James closed the scoring in the first with a 3-ball and a pair of free throws as Hampton took a 23-6 lead after one.

Adeniji scored a layup to start the second quarter for Coppin, but the Eagles fell victim to another Hampton spurt as the Lady Pirates scored 11 of the next 13 points as a Mikayla Sayle jumper gave Hampton a 34-10 lead with 6:22 left in the half.

Strothers found her range from behind the arc to close out the first half draining a pair of triples on consecutive possessions for the largest lead of the night at 48-17 with 26 seconds left in the half.

Hampton went ice-cold from the field to start the second half going 1-for-10 in the third, but in the final 10 minutes Hampton was 5-of-8 (62.5%) to keep a 20+-point margin for the win.

For the game, Hampton was 21-of-47 from the floor (44.7%), and 7-of-16 from the 3-point arc (43.8%).  They were 29-of-45 from the line (64.4%) and out-rebounded Coppin State 36-30. 

A quick turnaround awaits Hampton as they'll be back on the HU Convocation Center floor on Wednesday night with a 5pm tip against Maryland Eastern Shore.

For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5906 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.