HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — The College of Charleston women’s basketball team built a large early lead and never trailed, defeating Hampton 88-75 on Sunday at the Convocation Center. The Cougars opened a 48-31 halftime advantage behind efficient shooting, finishing the game at 59 percent from the floor. Tyja Beans led Charleston with 24 points and six rebounds. Kayla Lezama scored a game-high 29 points for the Pirates, who fell despite a stronger second-half performance. Charleston improved to 12-3 overall, while Hampton dropped to 7-8. The Cougars dominated assists, 11-3, and shot 11 for 24 from three-point range to Hampton’s 5 for 15.

HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — A blistering offensive start and a dominant individual performance from Tyja Beans propelled the College of Charleston women’s basketball team to a decisive 88-75 victory over Hampton on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The Cougars, improving to 12-3 overall, seized control from the opening tip, scoring the game’s first seven points and never trailing. They built a 26-16 lead after the first quarter and extended it to a 48-31 advantage by halftime, shooting a scorching 59% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Pirates, who fell to 7-8, could not muster a sustained run to seriously threaten the lead despite a valiant 29-point effort from Kayla Lezama. The most critical phase of the game was the first quarter, where College of Charleston established its offensive rhythm and defensive pressure. The Cougars opened with a 7-0 run, capped by a Tyja Beans layup assisted by Taylor Barbot. While Hampton’s Lezama answered with a pull-up jumper for the Pirates’ first points, Charleston’s offensive execution was relentless. Key three-pointers from Sophia Tougas and Leah Philpotts, along with efficient interior play, stretched the lead. A late triple from Taryn Barbot with 16 seconds left in the period gave the Cougars their first double-digit lead at 26-16, setting a tone of offensive efficiency that Hampton could not match. Beans, a 5-foot-11 guard from Daytona Beach, Florida, was the catalyst, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting and adding six rebounds. She was instrumental in both the early surge and in answering any minor Hampton pushes in the second half. Her recent scoring prowess continued, following performances of 23 and 12 points in her last two games. Charleston’s offensive machine operated with precision, posting an offensive rating of 137.8 points per 100 possessions. The Cougars shot 59% from the field overall and 45.8% from three-point range. They assisted on 15 of their 36 made field goals, led by Taylor Barbot’s 11 assists, and scored 40 points in the paint. Defensively, they forced 11 Hampton turnovers, converting them into 18 points. Hampton, which shot a respectable 51.8% from the floor, was led by Lezama’s game-high 29 points. The 6-foot guard from Boston added four rebounds and four assists. Le’Asia Foreman of Norfolk, Virginia, provided a strong double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. The Pirates won the rebounding battle 32-30 and outscored Charleston 22-18 in the fourth quarter, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. Supporting Beans for the Cougars were Leah Philpotts with 13 points, Taryn Barbot with 12 points and five rebounds, and Sophia Tougas with 11 points. Jami Hill provided a spark off the bench with nine points, all from beyond the arc, in just nine minutes of play. For Hampton, Olivia Smith contributed nine points, five assists and two blocks, while Kiarra Mcelrath added nine points. The game drew an attendance of 527 to the Convocation Center. College of Charleston, which entered as a heavy favorite according to statistical projections, has now won three consecutive games and six of its last seven. Hampton has lost two of its last three. The Cougars return home to face Drexel on Friday. Hampton travels to face William & Mary, also on Friday.

HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — A surging College of Charleston women’s basketball team looks to continue its strong start when it visits Hampton for a nonconference matchup Sunday at the Convocation Center. The Cougars (11-3) enter on a three-game winning streak, most recently edging William & Mary 62-60 on the road Friday. They have won seven of their last eight, including a notable 75-70 victory at Florida State last month. Hampton (7-7) seeks consistency after splitting its last two games. The Pirates fell 84-75 at Elon on Jan. 4 despite a 23-point effort from Kayla Lezama. They defeated Stony Brook 63-54 two days prior. The game features a compelling backcourt matchup between two of the region’s top scorers. Charleston is led by dynamic guard Taryn Barbot, who is averaging 18.2 points over her last five games. She erupted for 29 points in 33 minutes in a win over Northeastern on Jan. 4. Hampton will counter with its own high-scoring guard in Kayla Lezama. She averages 14.4 points per game and is coming off her season-high 23-point performance at Elon. Her ability to penetrate will test a Charleston defense that has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in five wins this season. The Cougars have shown offensive firepower, scoring 85 and 114 points in dominant wins earlier this month. Hampton’s defense, which allows an average of 66.1 points, will need to contain Barbot and limit transition opportunities to have a chance at the upset. Following this contest, Charleston opens Coastal Athletic Association play at home against Drexel on Jan. 16. Hampton begins CAA action on the road at William & Mary the same day. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. EST Sunday.