HAMPTON, Va. (March 1, 2024) … In a low scoring defensive struggle, it was Hampton (3-22, 3-12) that made the big plays when needed to come away with a 48-42 triumph over homestanding Hofstra. Hofstra scored the first basket of the game but Hampton scored nine straight points to take a lead it would never relinquish.

Hampton held a slim 34-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Down the stretch, the Pride scored six straight points to close to 40-37 with 3:03 to go. But the Lady Pirates outscored Hofstra 8-3 in the final minutes to snap a seven-game losing streak. Hampton last victory was a 67-62 win over Hofstra in Hampton on January 28.

It was Hampton's swarming, relentless defense that kept the Pride at bay. The Lady Pirates forced 25 Hofstra turnovers and made 11 steals, turning them into 17 points. The Pride struggled from the field, shooting just 28 percent (14-of-50) and 18 percent (4-of-22) from three-point range.

Camryn Hill paced the Lady Pirates with 12 points. Le'Asia Foreman finished with eight points and seven rebounds and Cheyenne Talbot had seven points and eight rebounds in the winning effort. Hofstra's Sorelle Izeza led all scorers with 13 points.

After a basket by Hofstra to begin the game, Hampton reeled off nine straight points to take command. Behind Camryn Hill's nine first quarter points, the Lady Pirates shot 56 percent from the field. On the defensive end, the Lady Pirates forced nine Hofstra turnovers and limited the Pride to 27 percent shooting. Malaka Cobb's last-second field goal boosted the Hampton to lead to 19-8.

The second quarter was a different story. Both teams struggled on offense while the Lady Pirates scored a season low four points in the quarter while shooting 1-of-11 from the field. Hofstra took advantage and scored the first six points of the quarter to close to 19-14 with 6:30 left. The Pride made just 1-of-10 shots to end the quarter but a three-pointer by Emma Von Essen and two free throws by Micaela Carter made it 23-19 at halftime. Hampton went without a field goal in the final 4:34.

Hampton turned up the defensive heat in the third quarter limiting Hofstra to just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting. Hampton started the third period by scoring six straight points on baskets by Hill, Amyah Reaves and Casey Miller to go ahead by 10, 29-19, with 6:03 left. Hofstra went 3:26 without a field goal. Hampton led, 34-27, after three quarters.

A Foreman lay-up put the Lady Pirates ahead, 37-27, with 8:26 left in the game. After Hofstra scored four straight points, Tyra Kennedy gave Hampton some breathing room with a three-pointer with 6:49 to go to put Hampton ahead 40-31.

But Hofstra rallied by scoring six consecutive points to make it 40-37 with 3:03 left. Another Foreman lay-up followed by a key Talbot rebound and Miller bucket made it 44-37 with 1:30 remaining. Holding a 44-40 lead in the final minute, a free throw by Talbot and a steal and lay-up by Foreman sealed Hofstra's fate.

Hampton travels to Boston to take on Northeastern on Sunday, March 3 in the final road contest of the season. The Lady Pirates return home to close out the regular season with games against Stony Book on Thursday, March 7 and Saturday, Campbell on March 9 at the Hampton Convocation Center.