WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW women's basketball returns to Trask Coliseum on Thursday at 7 p.m. to face Hampton on Black Excellence Night, the final home game of the regular season. The Seahawks are looking to sweep the series after defeating the Pirates 66-50 earlier this season.

Last Sunday, UNCW fell to Charleston, 99-63, at TD Arena. Taylor Henderson led the way for UNCW with 17 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, while adding six rebounds. Ali Zelaya reached double figures for the 14th straight game and recorded her league-leading ninth double-double with 16 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Evan Miller scored 11 points, with nine coming in the second half. Miller is 40 points away from 1,000 for her career.

Zelaya leads the team with 12.4 points per game. The 6'4 forward is the CAA leader in blocks (73), blocks per game (2.52), rebounds (264), and defensive rebounds per game (7.4). She has scored at least 10 points per game over her last 14 games. Zelaya averages 15.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and three blocks per game during that stretch. Zelaya was one of five players named Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week on Feb. 4 by the USBWA, following two electrifying double-doubles in wins against Hofstra and Stony Brook. Zelaya needs five blocks to set the new UNCW single-season record held by Ioulia Boxley (77, 1999-00).

Zelaya is seventh in the nation in blocks (73), eighth in blocks per game (2.52), 15th in defensive rebounds per game (7.5), and 49th in rebounds (264). 

The 2025 Credit Union 1 Coastal Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship tournament is March 12-16 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. Seeds 11-14 play on the first day. UNCW is in ninth place in the CAA standings with a record of 7-9 in league play.

GAME COVERAGE

•   Hampton (7-20, 3-13 CAA) at UNCW (13-16, 7-9 CAA)
•   Live Stream: FloCollege
•   Live Radio: 95.9 The Breeze
•   Live Stats: UNCWSports.com/coverage

SERIES

The all-time series is tied at four. UNCW has won the last two meetings, including a 66-50 victory in Hampton on Jan. 26.

LAST MEETING AGAINST HAMPTON

UNCW earned its first-ever road win at Hampton, 66-50, on Jan. 26, avenging four previous losses. The Seahawks shot 14-of-16 at the charity stripe and held the Pirates to shooting 31% from the field. UNCW also outrebounded Hampton 45-32. The Seahawks' +13 rebound advantage is the most against a Division I opponent in 2024-25. Four Seahawks reached double figures in the win. Zelaya posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Jania Hall added 15 points and four rebounds off the bench,  Henderson finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Kate Hollifield tallied 10 points and five rebounds. The Seahawks led by nine at the end of the third quarter and soared past the Pirates in the fourth.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES

Four Pirates reach double figures in Hampton's 68-66 victory against Northeastern last Sunday. CeCe Thomas had a team-high 14 points, Aisha Dabo tallied 12, and Amyah Reaves and Le'Asia Foreman each added 10. Foreman had a key offensive rebound and tip-in to give the Pirates a one-point lead with two seconds left. Dabo tallied a game-high 16 points in the first meeting against UNCW this season. Jasha Clinton leads the Pirates with 14.2 points per game, but she did not play in the win against Northeastern. Clinton also leads the team with 34 three-pointers and 55 steals.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Seahawks end the regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. at North Carolina A&T. UNCW led by 10 at the half before falling at home to the league-leading Aggies, 67-64, on Feb. 28.