HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 19, 2026) … The Hampton University women's basketball team will host a pair of contests this weekend as Drexel and Monmouth come to town.
Friday's matchup with Drexel will be Black History Appreciation Night starting at 7 p.m., while Sunday's 2 pm tilt with Monmouth will be Daddy-Daughter Day.
 
ABOUT HAMPTON (9-15/3-9)
The Pirates start a weekend home series hosting Drexel on Friday night before entertaining Monmouth on Sunday afternoon.

Hampton and Drexel met two weeks ago in Philadelphia as the Dragons took a 75-42 decision on February 6. Kiki McElrath had seven points to lead Hampton while Kayla Lezama added six.

Heading into the weekend Kayla Lezama leads the team in scoring averaging 14.3 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 (.434) and is third in free throw percentage (.909). Kiki McElrath is next averaging 13.1 points per game overall and fourth in free throw percentage in CAA games (.898).

On the boards, Le'Asia Foreman leads the Pirates and fifth in the league in rebounding at 7.0 caroms per contest. Olivia Smith leads the team in assists (73) with Aaryn Battle coming in with 64 helpers. Foreman leads in steals (38) followed by McElrath (34) and Lezama (30).

As a team, the Pirates are averaging 60.5 points per game and allowing 63.4. On the boards, they trail 41.0-to-34.4 per game. From the field they are hitting 36.7 percent (538-1465) and allowing opponents to hit 40.6 percent (578-1422). From 3-point range, Hampton is 135-of-501 for 26.9 percent while the opposition is 125-of-434 for 28.8 percent. Hampton has averaged 14.1 turnovers per game and force 17.5 per contest.
 
ABOUT DREXEL (15-8/8-4)
The Dragons start their run through the 757 on Friday night at the Convocation Center before heading to Williamsburg on Sunday. Amaris Baker leads the CAA in scoring averaging 19.8 points per game and had 24 in the first meeting.

She is joined in double figures by Laine McGuirk averaging 12.2 points per game, while Deja Evans is just off at 9.9 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game.

As a team, Drexel is averaging 64.1 points per game and allowing 56.4. They're hitting .419 from the field (559-1333) and their opponents are hitting .378 (495-1311). From 3-point range they are hitting .318 (112-352) and allowing their opponents to hit at a .262 clip (121-461). On the boards, they are outrebounding their opponents 36.8-to-33.5 per game. Drexel is forcing 14.0 turnovers per game and turning the ball over 12.1 times per game.
 
ABOUT MONMOUTH (16-8/9-4)
Monmouth starts its 757 weekend in Williamsburg Friday before coming to Hampton on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks are paced by the duo of GiGi Gamble and Divine Dibula who each rank in the top six in the CAA in scoring. Gamble averages 14 points per game and hits .333 from 3-point range, while Dibula averages 13.4 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. Alexis Andrews chips in 10 points per contest as well.

As a team, Monmouth is averaging 63.8 points per game and allowing 57.5. They're hitting .407 from the field (561-1377) and their opponents are hitting .372 (495-1331). From 3-point range they are hitting .268 (124-462) and allowing their opponents to hit at a .291 clip (117-402). On the boards, they are outrebounding their opponents 38.8-to-33.9 per game. Monmouth is forcing 17.2 turnovers per game and turning the ball over 16.6 times per game.
 
SERIES VS. DREXEL
Drexel leads the all-time series 5-2 and have won the last five meetings. The last time these teams played in Hampton, Amaris Baker hit a jumper with two seconds left as Drexel took a 59-58 victory. Both of Hampton's wins came in Philadelphia in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

SERIES VS. MONMOUTH
Monmouth has won all four meetings against Hampton including a pair of contests last season. Hampton fell 62-60 on Feb. 16, 2025 in New Jersey and then lost 62-54 in the second round of the CAA Tournament on Mar. 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Monmouth has won the only meeting in the Convocation Center 69-61 on Jan. 26, 2024.

BATTLE RETURNS…TO FANFARE
After missing seven games, Sewell, New Jersey native and junior guard Aaryn Battle returned to action 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.

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.

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 135 three-pointers which matches last year's total and is tenth on the all-time single season list.

They have blocked 92 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.
 
PLAYED THEM TIGHT
Last year, the Pirates were involved in 18 games, including seven of their last 10, that were decided by 10 points or less and sported a 7-11 mark in those games.

In Hampton's Battle of the Bay win over Norfolk State, the Pirates picked up where that left off last season scoring a 57-55 win which snapped a 28-game home court winning streak for the Spartans. They pulled another two-point win on November 29 with a 58-56 victory over Buffalo.

So far in 2025-26, the Pirates are 4-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.

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 22 games played.
Shelton moved into the single season Top 10 list with five blocks over two games against Drexel and Hofstra. She now has 38 on the year and is one away from tying Alyssa Bennett for ninth place with 39.
 
UP NEXT
Hampton visits Stony Brook (Feb. 27) and Northeastern (Mar. 1).