ATLANTA (Dec. 30) - Hampton shot 61 percent in the second half and made nine three-point baskets to roll to a 74-44 win over Georgia State in the championship game of the 17th annual GSU Invitational Tournament.
Tournament MVP Quanneisha Perry's 17 points and seven rebounds fueled Hampton's seventh straight win. The Pirates (8-4) shot 14-of-23 in the second half, including 6-of-9 outside the three-point line. They converted 19-of-23 free throws.
GSU, who came in off a 91-point game yesterday, shot just 28 percent in the second half (10-of-35) and 32 percent in the game. GSU did have a 37-34 rebound advantage, sparked with 16 offensive rebounds.
GSU (5-6) got a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds from junior forward Chan Harris, while Angelique Burtts added 10 points.
For Hampton, Melanie Warner and Choicetta McMillian each added 13 points.
The turning point of the game came in the final five minutes of the first half. A GSU basket by Chan Harris cut Hampton's lead to 21-17 at that point. But, a Hampton 7-0 run, starting with a trey from Warner, made it 28-17. The half ended with another trey from Jericka Jenkins of Hampton to finish a 10-2 run in those final five minutes and give HU a 31-19 halftime lead.
When the Pirates started the second half with two more quick three-point baskets from the same duo of Warner and Jenkins, the lead grew to 37-19 and GSU could never get closer than 15 points on a pair of occasions with six minutes to play at 55-40 with 5:55. Hampton then outscored GSU 19-4 over the final six minutes of the game to post the largest lead of the game.
“I am disappointed in losing, but more disappointed that we can't put two good games together yet this year,” said head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. “We are too inconsistent and have got to be ready to play aggressively on offense. We are not getting to the free throw line (just 3-of-9 today) and everyone has to take that challenge.”
In addition to tournament MVP Quanneisha Perry of Hampton, the all-tournament team includes Melanie Warner of Hampton, Chan Harris and Angelique Burtts of GSU, DeAngela Sword of Troy and Ka'Neshia Smith of Mississippi Valley State. Troy defeated Mississippi Valley State, 62-56, in the consolation game today.
Georgia State will open CAA league play on Sunday at George Mason in a noon television game on Comcast.
