HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 28, 2025) … Hampton (6-20, 2-13) turned up the heat and played some of its best defense of the season before Hofstra (11-15, 6-9) battled back to register a 53-47 win over the Pirates. The Pirates held the Pride to 29.7 percent shooting to lead by as many as nine points in the third quarter. But Hofstra outscored Hampton 9-2 in the final four minutes to pull the come-from-behind victory.

In the battle of the Coastal Athletic Association's (CAA) two HUs, Hofstra posted its second straight win over the Pirates.

"We are at our best when our defense sets up our offense, and for three quarters we defended very well," Coach Tamisha Augustin said. "Down the stretch, we lost track of their key players and gave them some open shots."

Both teams struggled to find the basket in the game's opening minutes. The teams combined to go 0-8 from the field before Hofstra's Sabrina Larsson hit a three-pointer to break the ice three minutes into the contest. Hampton's Amyah Reaves answered with a bucket before the Pride went ahead 9-2 at the 3:45 mark. 

Through the first 5:50 of the first quarter, the Pirates were 1-of-6 from the field with five turnovers. Hofstra fared a little better, making just 4-of-17 shots (23 percent) from the field but managed an 11-9 lead after the first period.

Hampton outscored the Pride 13-7 in the second period to take a 22-18 lead to the locker room. The Pirates bench played a key role, scoring 11 of Hampton's 22 points by halftime. Jasha Clinton, who was honored in pregame ceremonies for scoring her 1,000th career point, led Hampton with six first half points. Eight Hampton players scored in the first half, and Hofstra's Ramatoulaye Keita led all scorers with seven points.

A lay-up by Clinton with 9:02 left in the third quarter boosted Hampton to its largest lead, 27-18. But a 7-0 run by the Pride and 1-of-10 shooting by the Pirates closed the gap. Hampton led 35-34 after three quarters.

Later in the quarter, back-to-back treys put Hofstra ahead 44-43. A CeCe Thomas basket put the Pirates back ahead 45-44 with 4:09 left. But Janaia Fargo's lay-up with 3:40 to go put the Pride ahead for good and started a 9-2 run for the Pride.

Aisha Dabo registered a double-double for the Pirates with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Clinton finished with a team-high 13 points. Hofstra's Fargo led all scorers with 20.

During the game, Coach Maurice Pierce's women's track & field team was honored and received a standing ovation for winning the university's first CAA championship in any sport a day earlier in Virginia Beach.

The Pirates host Northeastern (2-22, 1-14) on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. for the final contest of the year at the Hampton Convocation Center. The Pirates finish the season on the road with games at UNCW (March 6) and at Charleston (March 8).