HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 24, 2025) … They say that basketball is a game of runs, and Monday night's Hampton vs. Delaware State women's basketball contest proved that theory 100 percent accurate.

In a contest that saw several double-digit runs, Hampton put four in double figures behind a career-high 19 points from Olivia Smith and a career-high matching 19 points from Kayla Lezama to defeat Delaware State 76-59 in a non-conference match at the HU Convocation Center.

"It was nice to see us respond in the third quarter to the runs. Credit to Delaware State, they pressed us and made us unorthodox for a second. Pleased with outcome and bench support with 26 points tonight," said Hampton University Head Coach Tamisha Augustin.

Delaware State opened the game scoring the first 10 points as an Aniyah Jones layup put the Hornets up 10-0 at the 5:51 mark. Hampton scored its first bucket on a pull up jumper from Lezama 25 seconds later to kick start a 13-2 burst from the Pirates. Aisha Dabo hit a layup off a Lezama feed to put the Pirates up 13-12 with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.

The Hornets scored seven of the final 10 points of the quarter to take a 19-16 lead on a Liliana Harrison layup with four seconds left.

In the second quarter, Jermesha Frierson took a feed from Mahogany Cottingham for a fast break layup to lead 21-16 just 39 seconds into the stanza. Hampton ripped off the next 13 points capped by a free throw from Lezama to lead 29-22 with 5:08 left.

That margin grew to nine points as Smith hit a free throw to lead 33-24 with 26 seconds left.

The third quarter saw Hampton keep its advantage, though the Hornets went on a 12-3 burst to tie the game at 36 following a Scott free throw at the 4:49 mark. The Pirates broke out another big run ripping off a 16-5 burst to lead 52-41 on a three-point play by Aaryn Battle with 70 seconds left. Another jumper from Battle closed that quarter with Hampton up 54-43.

Delaware State did have one last burst as they opened the quarter scoring the first eight points as a Zyan Reynolds layup trimmed the margin to 54-51 with 7:33 on the clock. Hampton locked the game up with a 12-2 run to lead 66-53 on a pair of Smith free throws with 2:55 left.

Joining Smith and Lezama were Battle with 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals and Kiki McElrath with 13 points. Lezama also had a career-best seven boards to join Le'Asia Foreman as team leaders on the glass.

Hampton now hits the road for five straight games starting on Thanksgiving afternoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico against Stephen F. Austin in the Puerto Rico Clasico at noon eastern.