Big shots: Monday's top stars

Somewhat slim pickings from Monday as only Hampton was in action. But if hockey can award three stars from each game, we can, too. It certainly helps that that Hampton won, big.

Monday's result

Hampton 75, Savannah State 46
The Lady Pirates scored 30 points off 20 SSU turnovers. In other words, typical Hampton, particularly against a MEAC foe at home.

Three stars

3. Kaylah Lupoe, Hampton

The junior forward checked in with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the Lady Pirates' shakedown of Savannah State. Of particular note - six of Lupoe's eight boards came on the offensive glass.

2. Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Hampton

It's a tribute to the hefty stats DeFreitas routinely cranks out that her numbers Monday - 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals - represent a fairly typical night's work for the two-time MEAC Player of the Year. But what stood out on this night was her accuracy. Typically the very definition of a volume shooter - by necessity on this team - DeFreitas was super-efficient against the Tigers as she made eight of her 15 field goal attempts. Perhaps it's a sign of things to come - after making at least half of her shots just once in her first 12 games, DeFreitas has now done it twice in her last three.

1. Monnazjea Finney-Smith, Hampton

Heading into Monday's game, Finney-Smith was tied with her NBA brother Dorian, a guard for the Dallas Mavericks - both had season highs of 17 points. Monnazjea's in the lead, now, though, as she joined Tate-DeFreitas in lighting up Savannah State for an even 20. It was also the most productive night of her entire college career; in two seasons at VCU Finney-Smith twice topped out at 18 points, once as a freshman and once as a sophomore. Finney-Smith's career night also included a season high-tying four 3-pointers. For what it's worth, Dorian Finney-Smith's single-game season high is three 3-pointers.

What's our record?

Virginia Tech 15-0, 2-0 ACC; William and Mary 11-2, 1-1 CAA; Virginia 11-5, 0-3 ACC; Radford 10-3, 2-0 Big South; JMU 9-5, 2-1 ACC; VCU 9-8, 2-1 A-10; George Mason 9-8, 2-2 A-10; Richmond 8-8, 2-1 A-10; Hampton 8-7, 2-0 MEAC; Old Dominion 7-8, 2-2 C-USA; Norfolk State 6-7, 1-0 MEAC; Liberty 3-10, 2-0 Big South; Longwood 3-10, 0-2 Big South

Tuesday's games

Gardner-Webb (5-8, 0-2 Big South) at Longwood (3-10, 0-2), 11:15 a.m.
The Education Day matinee for the Lancers.

Radford (10-3, 2-0 Big South) at Campbell (10-3, 2-0),  7 p.m.
The game of the night in Big South play. Campbell is riding a seven-game winning streak and already owns a win over defending league champ and preseason favorite UNC Asheville.

Presbyterian (4-9, 2-0 Big South) at Liberty (3-10, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Another matchup of Big South unbeatens. A real clash of styles as Liberty has scored 81 points in each of its first two conference games while the methodical Blue Hose excel at keeping games in the 50s.