HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 12, 2026) … The Hampton University women's basketball team returns to the Convocation Center on Friday night to start a three-game homestand facing Towson. This is the seventh meeting all-time with Towson leading 5-1.

ABOUT HAMPTON (9-14/3-8)
The Pirates start a three-game homestand hosting Towson on Play4Kay Night. This is the only meeting this year between the Tigers and the Pirates.

Last season the teams split action, each winning on their home courts. Hampton took a 61-58 win on Jan. 24, 2025 as they outscored Towson 25-15 in the fourth quarter. The Pirates forced 30 turnovers and converted those into 26 points.

Two weeks later at Towson, the Tigers held Hampton to 32.1% shooting from the field en route to a 70-58 win.

Heading into the weekend Kayla Lezama leads the team in scoring averaging 14.1 points per game, while in the CAA she is fourth at 17.1 points per game. She also leads the CAA in league play for 3-point percentage (.440) and is second in free throw percentage (.929). Kiki McElrath is next averaging 13.1 points per game overall and is 12th in the CAA averaging 13.0 per league game.

On the boards, Le'Asia Foreman leads the Pirates and fifth in the league in rebounding at 7.2 caroms per contest. Olivia Smith leads the team in assists (72) with Aaryn Battle coming in with 63 helpers. Foreman leads in steals (35) followed by McElrath (31) and the duo of Battle and Lezama with 28 each.

As a team, the Pirates are averaging 61.3 points per game and allowing 63.1. On the boards, they trail 40.5-to-34.6 per game. From the field they are hitting 37.3 percent (524-1406) and allowing opponents to hit 40.7 percent (553-1360). From 3-point range, Hampton is 134-of-486 for 27.6 percent while the opposition is 118-of-409 for 28.9 percent. Hampton has averaged 14.3 turnovers per game and force 17.6 per contest.
 
ABOUT TOWSON (13-10/6-5)
The Tigers head for their "757 swing" on the heels of defeating Northeastern (63-55) on February 8.  They started last weekend dropping a 53-51 contest to William & Mary who they'll finish their swing with on Sunday.

India Johnston leads the team in scoring averaging 13.6 points per game and has hit 35 three-pointers. Zoli Khalil is next in scoring at 9.9 points and is second in blocked shots with 13. Kayla Morris leads the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and blocked shots with a CAA-best 56.

As a team, the Tigers are averaging 64.4 points per game and allowing 65.0. They're hitting .379 from the field (526-1389) and their opponents are hitting .392 (554-1414). From 3-point range they are hitting .297 (152-512) and allowing their opponents to hit at a .313 clip (100-320). On the boards, they are being outrebounded by their opponents 40.8-to-38.0 per game. Towson is forcing 15.3 turnovers per game and turning the ball over 14.9 times per game.
 
BATTLE RETURNS…TO FANFARE
Sewell, New Jersey native and junior guard Aaryn Battle returned to action after missing seven games at Drexel on February 6 to a friendly return as her high school basketball team, Camden Catholic, were sitting behind the Pirates bench cheering on their alum. She had five points, four rebounds and four assists in her return to the court at Drexel.

APPROACHING SINGLE SEASON TEAM TOP 10'S
Coming down the home stretch of the regular season, the Pirates are approaching a couple of team all-time top 10 categories.

They have hit 134 three-pointers which is one away from cracking the all-time top 10. Last season Hampton hit 135 triples to slide into the top 10 in tenth.

They have blocked 90 shots as a team and are within sight of tenth place on the all-time single season list at 97 held by the 2010-11 and 2017-18 teams.

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 12 of her 21 games played.

Shelton moved into the single season Top 10 list with five blocks over two games last weekend. She now has 38 on the year and is one away from tying Alyssa Bennett for ninth place with 39.

UP NEXT
Hampton hosts Drexel (February 20) and Monmouth (February 22) to close out the homestand next week.