Friday's recaps

TODAY'S STAR

Courtney Hurt, VCU

   - Scored the game-winning layup with 1.4 seconds left to lift the Rams past High Point 65-64. Hurt finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

   - Quanneisha Perry lit up JMU for 27 points as the Lady Pirates stunned the Dukes at the Convocation Center;

   - Richmond's Brittani Shells torched Western Carolina at a point-a-minute pace - 34 points, 34 minutes;

   - Anybody seen Liberty's offense?

Told ya! - George Mason 59, UMass 51. We said: George Mason 60, UMass 55

Uh, we can explain...: Creighton 40, Liberty 35. We said: Liberty 62, Creighton 52

GAME REPORTS

Hampton 69, James Madison 64: A significant triumph not just for Hampton but also for the entire MEAC. Jericka Jenkins added 16 points for the Lady Pirates, who shook off a slow start to roar into a WNIT second-round game at South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits crushed Utah State 87-38 in Friday's first round. JMU shot just 26.9 percent from the field and jacked up 34 3-pointers (making 10).

VCU 65, High Point 64: Point guard Jennifer Lane added 14 points and 6 assists in 38 minutes and freshman Jackie Brewer lived up to her reputation as a pure scorer as she tallied 11 points in just 12 minutes as the Rams improved to 24-3 in November games under coach Beth Cunningham.

Virginia 82, Hofstra 68: Impressive stuff by the Cavaliers. The talk about a significantly improved Simone Egwu (14 points, 14 rebounds) was legit. Guard Whitny Edwards led a balanced offense with 16 points. And how 'bout freshmen Jazmin Pitts (17 rebounds) and Kelsey Wolfe (12 points, 10 rebounds)? Debbie Ryan insisted that the Cavaliers would replace Monica Wright by committee, with several players chipping in. For one night at least, she wasn't just whistling Dixie.

Virginia Tech 59, Presbyterian 52: Wow. The Presbyterian team we saw last year (5-25) was pretty weak. That the Blue Hose actually led this game at the half and hung around until the final minutes....well, maybe Presbyterian has gotten better. A LOT better. But a win is a win, right? And freshman Nia Evans (a game-high 14 points in team-high 29 minutes) looks like the real deal.

Richmond 79, Western Carolina 65: Crystal Goring had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks and Genevieve Okoro snatched 12 rebounds in her Spiders debut. Richmond held the Catamounts to 33.4 percent shooting.

Creighton 40, Liberty 35: A stunner at N.C. State's Wolfpack Invitational. Not so much that the Lady Flames lost; the Bluejays are a solid opponent and the game was on a neutral court. But 35 points? Granted, All-Big South star and scoring leader Devon Brown (the birthday girl) sat out with a toe injury. Still, Liberty made just one second-half field goal (out of 15 attempts). Scored its fewest points since 1993. And committed 30 turnovers. We going to chalk it up as just one of those (really, really bad) days, because we know this team is capable of a much better offensive performance. At least they won't have much time to dwell on Friday's debacle; Liberty will face the College of Charleston in today's 6 p.m. consolation game.

George Mason 60, UMass 55: Radford transfer Taleia Moton had 19 points and 4 steals in her Patriots debut and senior Brittany Eley added 14 points as Mason matched its road victory total for all of last season.

Longwood 71, Campbell 48: The Lancers opened their season in style by continuing to play tough on their home court. In the other first-round game, Appalachian State dumped Marshall 65-55. Longwood will face Marshall today to in the Lancer Classic finale.