Feast on this instate matchup: Hampton vs. Richmond

Tuesday's games

Richmond (3-1) at Hampton (1-2), 6 p.m.

This one is such a doozy that we're heading there ourselves. Spiders should be riding high after victory over N.C. State and nobody has been better in the state than Brittani Shells, who dumped 28 points on the Wolfpack. Shells has gotten plenty of help, too, including Abby Oliver (19 points versus Wolfpack) and Crystal Goring (11 boards versus 'Pack). The Pirates don't have the gaudy record to show for what looks like a promising season, and that's because of the competition. After stunning James Madison in Harrisonburg, the Pirates fell at South Dakota State and Charlotte in the preseason WNIT. Both were close games, as the Spiders continue to impress behind second-year coach David Six and leading scorer Choicetta McMillian (15 ppg). Hampton hasn't beaten Richmond since the Spiders were in the CAA, but even though we're leaning toward the Spiders, we're not betting the house. Richmond 66, Hampton 64




Hard to forget

  Old Dominion (2-0) at North Carolina State (2-2), 7 p.m.
Lady Monarchs hit the road for the first time this season and take on their second ACC opponent in an N.C. State team that was upended by Richmond and Brittani Shells (see above) in its last outing. Balanced scoring and improved ballhandling have been key in ODU's victories over Georgia Tech and North Carolina A&T. The Lady Monarchs will have have their hands full controlling Marissa Kastanek, who is connecting on 58 percent of her field goals, and Amber White, the 'Pack's 5-6 senior point guard who was the MVP of the Wolfpack Invitational.This is the same N.C. State team that eased past ODU at the Constant Center 62-52 a year ago. Stray thought: Do you think Wendy Larry flashes back to the 1997 title game when she sees N.C. State coach and former Lady Vol Kellie Harper pacing the sidelines? NC State 69, Old Dominion 62 

UMBC (1-3) at George Mason (1-2), 7 p.m.

The Patriots begin their home schedule after coming oh-so-close in their last game at Wichita State. Amber Easter scored 16 in that one as GMU rallied from 16 down to make it a one possession game before falling 64-59. The Retrievers' lone win is against Coppin State. The Patriots need to be wary of junior center Tope Obajule, who led America East in blocks last season. Patriots could use Brittany Poindexter, who missed Mason's last game due to an ankle injury. Poindexter is listed as day to day. George Mason 74, UMBC 61