HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 29, 2026) … The Hampton University women's basketball team concludes the month of January in Wilmington, N.C. facing the Seahawks of UNCW on Friday night at Trask Coliseum starting at 7 p.m.

ABOUT HAMPTON (8-11/2-5)
The Pirates are in the midst of a three-game week as they visit UNCW on Friday and then host N.C. A&T on Sunday. Hampton fell 79-53 to Elon on Monday afternoon in a makeup game that was pushed back due to inclement weather in the Hampton Roads area.

Kayla Lezama leads the team in scoring averaging 14.6 points per game, while in the CAA she is second at 20 points per game. She also leads the CAA in league play for 3-point percentage (.559) and is second in free throw percentage (.956). Kiki McElrath is next averaging 12.7 points per game overall and is tied for 13th in the CAA averaging 13.4 per league game. Aaryn Battle rounds out the double figure scorers averaging 10.2 points per game.

On the boards, Le'Asia Foreman leads the Pirates and 10th in the league averaging 7.6 rebounds per game while averaging 7.0 rebounds per conference game. Battle leads in assists with 55 and Olivia Smith is right behind at 53. Foreman leads in steals with 30 followed by McElrath with 29.

As a team, the Pirates are averaging 62.7 points per game and allowing 62.7. On the boards, they trail 39.7-to-35.2 per game. From the field they are hitting 37.9 percent (440-1160) and allowing opponents to hit 40.2 percent (455-1131). From 3-point range, Hampton is 116-of-412 for 28.2 percent while the opposition is 97-of-343 for 28.3 percent. Hampton has averaged 15.1 turnovers per game and force 17.8 per contest.
 
ABOUT UNCW (5-14/1-7)
UNCW enters the contest on a seven-game losing streak as the Seahawks won their CAA opener against Northeastern (69-67) at home and have lost every game since. They also had their schedule tweaked due to the inclement weather last weekend as they fell at Campbell 67-61 in overtime on Tuesday afternoon as Rori Cox scored 29 points in that contest to lead UNCW.

Cox leads the Seahawks in scoring (14.6 ppg), three-point percentage (.359), assists (49), steals (54), and second in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and free throw percentage (.769). Joining her in double figure scoring is Kylah Silver averaging 11.2 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game.

As a team, the Seahawks are averaging 61.6 points per game and allowing 69.8. On the boards, they are being outrebounded 38.3-to-35.8 per game. From the floor they are hitting .408 (430-1054) and allowing their opponents to hit at a .416 clip (492-1183). From 3-point land, UNCW is 102-of-342 (.298) and their opponents are hitting at a .347 mark (136-392). The Seahawks average 20.2 turnovers per game and force 16.1.

PIRATES IN JANUARY
In the 51-year history of Hampton University women's basketball, the Pirates are 286-158 in the month of January. On January 30, Hampton is 8-4 with wins over George Mason, Richmond, Va. Union, UDC, Delaware State, Morgan State, Coppin State and Norfolk State.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE LIST
The Pirates have had three triple-doubles in the NCAA Division I Era (1995-present). LaShondra Dixon had the first one on Feb. 12, 2001 against Coppin State as she had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Almost two years later, also against Coppin State, Lynetta Sullivan had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 13, 2003.

The last triple-double for Hampton University was done by Malia Tate-DeFreitas on Jan. 9, 2016 against Bethune-Cookman as she had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

FRESHMAN BLOCK PARTY
Freshman Akilah Shelton made her presence known in the HBCU Hoops Invitational in Orlando as she swatted a season-high five shots in each of the two Hampton wins. She had three at Eastern Kentucky and in the CAA opening win over Stony Brook. The Georgia native and has had at least two swats in nine of her 17 games played.

She enters the last weekend of January with 30 blocks on the season and one away from cracking the NCAA Division I Era Single Season list. Shelton needs seven blocks to join the Single Season Top 10 all-time.

NEXT UP
Hampton will host N.C. A&T on Sunday at 2 p.m. before heading for a weekend swing to Drexel and Hofstra on February 6-8.