RICHMOND, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2025) … Kiki McElrath scored a season-high 20 points to lead Hampton as they closed out their non-conference schedule with a 70-52 loss at Eastern Kentucky on Monday afternoon.

Hampton (6-6) opened the game with a three-pointer from McElrath who later hit three free throws for a 6-4 lead at the 6:28 mark. A driving layup from Aisha Dabo evened the game at 8-8 and Kayla Lezama followed with a mid-range jumper to lead 10-8.

Eastern Kentucky scored the next five points to lead 13-10 with a 3-ball by Ndidiamaka Ndukwe at the 2:28 mark. Le'Asia Foreman had a putback to bring the margin to one at 13-12 24 seconds later.

After a Joseana Vaz triple for EKU, Lezama made a pullup jumper and three points from McElrath put Hampton back in front 17-16 with 31 seconds left. Ndukwe's layup with 19 seconds put EKU up 18-17 after one period.

The second quarter saw Hampton struggle from the field going 3-for-21. Hampton was scoreless for over three minutes as the Colonels went on a 7-0 run that was snapped by a Lezama putback with 4:08 left as they trailed 27-21.

The hosts then went on a 10-2 burst to push the lead to 37-23 on a turnaround by Ndukwe with 38 seconds left. A free throw from Olivia Smith with 11 seconds left gave the Pirates a halftime deficit of 37-24.

McElrath started the third period with a pullup jumper to trail 37-26 just 19 seconds in. Eastern Kentucky scored nine of the next 11 points to take their largest lead at 46-28 with 7:23 on the clock.

The Colonels closed the quarter on a 13-2 run over the last 4:05 to take a 59-36 lead after three periods. A Taylor Gibson layup with 94 seconds left was the lone Hampton bucket in that stretch.

For the game, Hampton outrebounded Eastern Kentucky 51-50 as Dabo and Foreman had nine apiece and Aaryn Battle added seven. Akilah Shelton recorded a season high six rebounds, while Lezama tied a career high with four steals.

Hampton now starts CAA play on Friday night hosting Stony Brook at 7 p.m. inside the HU Convocation Center.