HAMPTON, Va. -- Behind a career-high matching 22 points from sophomore Ashley Bates, the Hampton Lady Pirates held off a second-half charge from Delaware State to take a 66-62 win on Friday night at the HU Convocation Center.

After jumping out to as much as a 15-point lead barely a minute into the third quarter, Hampton (5-9, 2-0) saw the Hornets hit 50% from the floor in the final 20 minutes.  Jephany Brown put Hampton up 39-24 with a pair of free throws 12 seconds into the third quarter.  Delaware State (2-15, 1-3) answered on a 14-2 run to cut the deficit to 41-38 on a layup by NaJai Pollard with 5:03 left. 

A late flurry by Hampton saw them score the last six points of the quarter on a pair of buckets by LaShayla Wright-Ponder and a pair of Bates free throws to lead 49-40 heading into the fourth.

Hampton pushed the lead to 10 on three occasions in the fourth, with a jumper by Wright-Ponder putting them up 54-44 with 7:34 left.  The Hornets cut the lead to three on four occasions down the stretch as a running 3-pointer by Ryan Jones got the Hornets to 65-62 with two seconds left. 

K'lynn Willis added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds which is a career-high for her.  Wright-Ponder added 12 points and six rebounds for Hampton who has now won three in a row.

Hampton returns to action on Monday night in its final non-conference matchup of the season facing Old Dominion at 7 pm in the HU Convocation Center.

For more information on Hampton University women's basketball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.