HAMPTON, Va. – Sophomore Mahaley Holit exploded for a career-best 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as Hampton knocked off Radford 68-54 on Tuesday night in the first home Big South contest for the Lady Pirates.

The game opened with both teams blistering hot.  Hampton hit its first six shots and lead 15-8 on a Kaylah Lupoe jumper with 5:57 left in the first quarter.  Radford went on a 13-4 flurry to lead 21-19 on a Destinee Walker layup with 48 seconds left.  Laren VanArsdale hit a triple to close the first quarter with Hampton up 22-21.

Over the next two quarters, Hampton clamped on the defense and held Radford to 5-for-27 from the floor including a 2-for-11 with six turnovers in the third quarter.  Radford stayed close trailing 31-28 at the half after a Sydney Nunley layup with 48 seconds left in the first half.

A pair of Kiana Johnson free throws brought the Highlanders to 31-30 just 28 seconds into the third, but Hampton ripped off a 16-2 run to lead 47-32 on a VanArsdale steal and layup with 35 seconds left in the third.

The lead grew to as much as 23 points twice in the fourth as a Lupoe jumper off a Holit feed gave the hosts a 64-41 lead with 3:40 left.

Holit was joined in double figures by Lupoe with 20 points and seven boards.  VanArsdale had seven points, seven boards, four assists and four steals, while LaShayla Wright-Ponder had six points, seven boards, three blocks and two assists.

Hampton hit a season high 54.7% from the floor (29-of-53), 6-of-15 from 3-point land (40%) and all four of its free throws.  The Lady Pirates outrebounded Radford 35-32, despite a 16-8 deficit on the offensive boards.

The Lady Pirates are now off until Tuesday when they host Longwood at 7 pm.

For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
 
POST-GAME NOTES

• Holit's 32 points was the first Lady Pirate to go over 30 points in a game since Malia Tate-DeFreitas scored 35 against Delaware State on Feb. 29, 2016.  Her previous career high was 12 in the season opener this year at Florida Atlantic.
• The nine rebounds and nine assists match her career high set against Mid-Atlantic Christian.
• The three blocks by Wright-Ponder topped her previous career high done twice with two against Columbia on Jan. 2.