CLINTON, S.C. – A 15-3 start for Hampton on Tuesday night helped propel the Lady Pirates to an 82-68 win over Presbyterian College in a key Big South matchup.

Hampton (15-11, 11-4) used a 9-0 spurt as part of the opening run as a putback by LaShayla Wright-Ponder gave Hampton a 15-3 lead with just under five minutes left in the quarter.

Presbyterian took a quick 35-34 lead with eight seconds left in the opening half on a 3-pointer by Riley Hemm, but a jumper by Mahaley Holit just before the halftime horn gave Hampton a 36-35 advantage at intermission.

The lead went back and forth for a few minutes in the third quarter but a 9-3 spurt by Hampton put them up 48-43 behind a 3-point play by Laren VanArsdale with 2:31 left to lead 48-43. 

In the fourth, Presbyterian grabbed a quick 50-48 lead on a 3-pointer from Tess Santos 31 seconds in, but Hampton evened the game at 50 on a free throw by Kaylah Lupoe with 8:19 remaining.  A pair of VanArsdale free throws finished off a 20-9 run as Hampton took command with a 70-59 lead with just under a minute remaining.  The Lady Pirates were 10-for-12 in the final minute from the foul line to ice the 82-68 win.

Lupoe and VanArsdale paced four in double figures with 17 points, while Ashley Bates added 16 and Wright-Ponder chipped in with 13 as Hampton hit 51% from the field (25-of-49).  The Lady Pirates scored 34 points in the final period with a boost from going 21-of-26 from the foul line in the final 10 minutes.

Hampton now will host High Point on Saturday for a shot at second place heading into the final week of the regular season.  The Lady Pirates trail High Point by half a game heading into the last three games of the regular season.

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.