HAMPTON, Va. – Sophomore Laren VanArsdale scored a season high 26 points to lead three in double figures as Hampton withstood a fourth quarter rally from visiting UNC Asheville for a 68-59 Big South Conference win on Tuesday.

Hampton closed the first quarter scoring the last seven points as a 3-pointer by VanArsdale put them up 13-6 with 1:20 left in the first.  That 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run over a 1:50 span.
That run continued in the second as Hampton started on an 18-5 burst to take a 31-11 lead on a VanArsdale layup at the 5:19 mark.  The Lady Pirates scored 15 straight after a Jimeshia Lawson layup trimmed the margin to 16-11 with 8:24 remaining. 

A triple by MaKayla Timmons started the 15 straight points for the hosts.  Timmons hit another triple to close the first half as Hampton held a 41-21 lead at intermission.

After a tight third quarter, Hampton held a 57-39 lead with 8:39 remaining on a three-point play by VanArsdale.  UNC Asheville responded with a 14-2 run over the next nearly six minutes to trail 59-53 on a Nadiria Evans layup with 2:51 left.  The lead for Hampton got as close as five points on a pair of Sonora Dengokl free throws with 18 seconds left to trail 64-59, but Timmons hit four free throws in the last 11 seconds for the win.

Ashley Bates stuffed the statsheet again for Hampton with 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Timmons had 16 points and four assists.

Hampton returns home on Saturday for a 4pm tip against Gardner-Webb University.

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.