HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 19, 2025) … Drexel (7-8, 2-3) came from behind in the closing minutes of the game to post a 59-58 win over Hampton (4-13, 0-6) before 527 fans at the Hampton Convocation Center. After falling behind in the early going, the Pirates pulled ahead and led until the game's final seconds.

Hampton nursed a lead in the final seconds before Amaris Baker's field goal from just outside the paint with three seconds left gave the Dragons a 59-58 lead. Hampton had one last chance to score when the final buzzer sounded. But the officials review determined that the shot had come after the buzzer sounded and the basket was waved off.

Hampton reeled off four straight points to start the game before Drexel went ahead 11-7 with 4:26 left. A Tyra Kennedy trey with 2:58 to go in the first quarter tied the score 14-14. Drexel scored the final three points of the quarter to go ahead 20-17. CeCe Thomas tallied five points and Amyah Reaves added four points with a pair of assists.

A Cara McCormack layup to start the second quarter extended Drexel's lead to 22-17. But the Pirates battled back. A Diamond Wiggins layup closed the gap to 27-25 and a layup by Thomas tied the score 27-27. Her free throw put the Pirates ahead 28-27 for the first time since the game's opening minutes. Aisha Dabo's layup on a pass from Amyah Reaves lifted the Pirates to a 30-27 halftime lead.

The Pirates outscored the Dragons 13-7 in the quarter shooting 50 percent from the field while limiting Drexel to 15.4 percent shooting accuracy. Thomas had 12 first-half points to lead all scorers. Hampton did damage on the inside scoring 22 points in the paint. Drexel's Baker, the Coastal Athletic Association's (CAA) leading scoring with an 18.4 average, was held to three points on 1-for-6 shooting in the opening half.

The Pirates extended their lead to 37-32 on a three-pointer by Reaves. Her bucket less than a minute later made 39-32. Five straight points by Drexel brought the Dragons within two, 39-37. Dabo took over with a jumper and a trey before a Dublin putback made it 46-39. Drexel score the game's next three points before Casey Miller scored on the inside to make it 48-42. Hampton led 48-43 after three quarters. Hampton shot 57.1 percent from the field in the third quarter but missed all four free throw attempts. Drexel shot at a 42.9 percent clip.

Baker's three-pointer with 7:09 remaining tied the score, 50-50. But Hampton rallied with six straight points on a Dublin and free throw and a bucket and free throws by Le'Asia Foreman to go ahead 56-50 with 4:20 to go. But Hampton would not score another field goal the rest of the way. Dublin canned a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left to put the Pirates ahead 58-57. But Baker scored Drexel's final seven points to pull ahead 59-58.

That set up the dramatic finish. Hampton had one final chance. With three seconds left, Hampton made a shot at the buzzer. But after the official reviewed the play, the basket was ruled to have come after the buzzer sounded.

The Pirates return to action on Friday, Jan. 24 when Hampton hosts Towson at 7:00 p.m. at the Hampton Convocation Center.