HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's basketball team withstood a late rally from Boston College Wednesday night at the HU Convocation Center, emerging with a 60-57 win.

The Lady Pirates (10-5) are 3-0 at home this season.

Senior guard Olivia Allen (Kildeer, Ill.) led the Lady Pirates with a career-high 19 points on 5-for-16 shooting and a 6-for-7 effort at the free throw line. Senior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) added 18 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) had 13 points and four assists.

Nicole Boudreau hit two free throws with 22 seconds to play, cutting Hampton's lead to 58-57 and capping a 9-0 Boston College run. But after Alexa Coulombe fouled Avant with 13 seconds left, the senior hit both free throws to put the Lady Pirates up 60-57.

Kerri Shields, who hit five 3-pointers on the night for the Eagles, tried to tie the game with a trey with six seconds left, but she missed. Boudreau also tried to tie the game as the clock ran out, but her shot also fell off the mark.

The Lady Pirates got off to a strong start, taking a 14-3 lead at the 15:59 mark of the first half after Allen converted a fast-break layup. She later drained a 3-pointer and added another fast-break layup, giving Hampton a 21-9 lead with 13:45 left in the half.

Hamilton hit a free throw at the 11:48 mark to put Hampton up 24-9.

Junior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) hit a layup at the 6:01 mark to give the Lady Pirates a 30-18 lead, but the Eagles fought back and cut the lead to seven, 32-25, with 28 seconds left in the half after a Kristen Doherty layup to cap a 7-2 Boston College run.

Avant hit a layup on the final play of the half, though, sending the Lady Pirates into the locker room with a 34-25 lead. Allen had 11 points at the break.

Allen hit a 3-pointer with 14:41 left in the second half to give the Lady Pirates their biggest lead of the closing 20 minutes, as Hampton went up 46-32. Boston College answered with six straight points to close the lead to 46-38 at the 11:25 mark after a layup from Katie Zenevitch.

Shields hit a trey at the 9:00 mark to cut Hampton's lead to 49-43, but the Lady Pirates continued to hold the Eagles at arm's length – going up 58-48 with 2:48 left to play after Avant hit a pair of free throws.

The Lady Pirates shot 32.8 percent (19-for-58) from the floor, while also hitting 17 of their 24 free throws (70.8 percent) – including 11 of 13 (84.6 percent) in the second half. Hampton out-rebounded the Eagles 39-38 and held a 15-6 edge in second-chance points.

Hampton also led 10-2 on the fast break.

Boston College (6-6) shot 38.0 percent (19-for-50) from the floor, hitting eight of its 24 3-pointers and 11 of 15 free throws.

Shields led three Eagles in double figures with 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers.

The Lady Pirates will close out non-conference play in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, when they square off against American at Bender Arena at 4:30 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.