TOWSON, Md. – Hampton University women’s basketball coach David Six knew his team would have its hands full against Towson on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament.
Not only were his No. 9 seed Pirates playing the top seed on its home court, but he was shorthanded. Two starters were out with injuries — Jermany Mapp suffered a broken hand in late February, and Tia Montagne tore an ACL in early December.
If that weren’t enough, Six acknowledged the Tigers are bigger and more athletic, so the Pirates would have to create turnovers to have a chance. They forced 18 but committed 16, were outrebounded (48-28) and outshot (48% to 37%), and their star player got into first-half foul trouble. That resulted in an 87-65 loss, ending their season.
“Not our finest hour, but I’m proud of the kids nonetheless,” Six said about the game and his team’s first year in the CAA after four in the Big South.
Nylah Young, a junior forward from Suffolk who was third-team All-CAA, led the Lady Pirates (12-18) with 16 points, but picked up her second foul with 8:03 left in the second quarter and Hampton leading 22-20. The Tigers took advantage of her absence to go on a 14-0 run to take control of the game.
Six said that’s when his team’s lack of size and depth, along with injuries, showed.
“It was close in the first quarter, but as we moved into the game, foul trouble and depth, injuries … having to play people out of position, was tough.”
Laren VanArsdale, a senior guard who averages 7.4 points, added 15.
“I just think we allowed them to get some open shots,” she said of the Tigers’ second-quarter run. “The rebounding didn’t help. They were getting a lot of second-chance shots.”
Hampton got off to a good start, forcing Towson turnovers on two of its first three possessions and six in the first quarter, but committed five. The Pirates led 18-16 after the first 10 minutes, thanks to shooting 7 of 12 from the floor.
Towson’s key second-quarter run was halted by a layup with 1:56 left in the half from Madison Buford, who finished with eight points, but the Tigers stretched it to 40-27 at the break.
In the second half, HU never got closer than 12 and trailed by as many as 29. The two teams split their regular-season series, with each winning at home.
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas, a first-team All-CAA selection, led the Tigers (20-10) with 18 points, 14 coming in the first half. The Tigers, who drew a bye into the quarterfinals, will play No. 4 William & Mary or No. 12 Hofstra in Saturday’s semifinals. Game time is 2 p.m.
