HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 16, 2024) … In a rematch of the first women's basketball game in Hampton history 50 years ago, Norfolk State (4-1) outlasted Hampton (1-2) 62-53 before a crowd of 2,752 at the Hampton Convocation Center.

Hampton's Aisha Dabo set a career-high with 15 points in the game and came within one rebound of a double-double. CeCe Thomas finished with 10 points for the Lady Pirates.
Norfolk State took control in the early-going building a nine-point lead late in the first quarter. The Lady Pirates battled back and closed the gap to 16-12 at the end of the first quarter. Jasha Clinton led the way with five points in the quarter while Norfolk State's Kierra Wheeler countered with eight points.

The Lady Pirates rallied to trim the Norfolk State lead to 16-14 on a basket by Diamond Wiggins. The two teams traded baskets before the Spartans went ahead 24-16. Norfolk State turned eight Hampton turnovers into eight points during the second quarter.
Norfolk State held a 33-24 advantage at halftime behind Wheeler's 12 points. Diamond Johnson added nine points and five boards for the Spartans. Aisha Dabo scored eight points in the opening half to keep the game close.

The Norfolk State lead grew to 11, 39-28, with 6:08 to go in the third period before Hampton again rallied. The Lady Pirates scored five straight points and trailed 39-33 with 4:55 left in the quarter. Norfolk State led 47-38 at the end of the third quarter.
The Norfolk State edge grew to as many as 12, 50-38, on a basket by Nira Field with 9:39 left in the contest. But a 13-6 Hampton run sliced the deficit to 56-51 on a pair of free throws by Dabo. Hampton was able to get closer the rest of the way.

After falling behind by nine points at halftime, Hampton played on even terms in the second half with each teams scoring 29 points.

Hampton is celebrating the 50th anniversary of women's sports at the university. In that first game, Hampton hosted Norfolk State with the Spartans downing the Lady Pirates 66-39 on Dec. 2, 1975.

This year's game was the second of a rare Saturday tripleheader. The Hampton football team fell to No. 13-ranked Richmond 24-21 earlier in the day. Following the women's basketball contest, the Hampton men's team entertained Norfolk State in the final contest of the evening.

Hampton returns to action on Nov. 20 when the Lady Pirates travel to Nashville, Tenn. to take on SEC foe Vanderbilt.