Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team made a statement on Friday in the first round of the Preseason WNIT, as the Lady Pirates defeated James Madison 69-64 at the JMU Convocation Center.

Friday's win was Hampton's first ever against JMU.

Senior forward Quanneisha Perry (Decatur, Ga.), the Preseason MEAC Player of the Year, led the Lady Pirates with 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting and a 7-for-9 effort from the free throw line, while also tying for the team high with seven rebounds. Junior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) also had seven rebounds.

Junior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) added 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting.

The Lady Dukes held a 32-28 lead at halftime, but Perry hit a jumper at the 17:43 mark in the second half to put the Lady Pirates (1-0) up 35-33. Dawn Evans, the Preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, tied the game at 35-35 with a free throw, but Jenkins put the Lady Pirates back on top with a layup.

Hampton would score seven unanswered points, culminating with Jenkins' lone 3-pointer of the night, to take a 51-45 lead with 8:10 to play. The Lady Pirates would later pull out to a 7-point lead, when junior Sherena Abercrumbia (Dallas, Texas) hit a jumper with 5:14 to play.

A layup from Jalissa Taylor with 58 seconds to play brought JMU (0-1) to within one, 65-64, but Perry responded with a jumper with 29 seconds remaining.

A pair of free throws from junior Melanie Warner (Tallahassee, Fla.) with 16 seconds to play iced the game for Hampton.

The Lady Pirates shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) from the floor on the night, while also making 70.6 percent (12-for-17) of their free throws. James Madison out-rebounded Hampton 57-41, though the Lady Dukes pulled down 29 offensive rebounds in part because they shot just 26.9 percent (21-for-78) from the floor.

Evans had a team-high 25 points, but she shot just 8-for-28 from the floor.

The Lady Pirates advance to the second round of the Preseason WNIT, where they will face off against South Dakota State on Monday in Brookings, S.D. at 7 p.m. local time in the Frost Arena. Live stats, as well as live audio and video, will be available through SDSU's athletic website at www.gojacks.com.

SDSU, the defending Summit League champion, defeated Utah Valley 87-38 on Friday.

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.