HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by gritty defense and crucial plays in the final seconds, the Radford Highlanders outlasted the Hampton Pirates 73-67 in overtime in a Big South Conference women’s basketball thriller Thursday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

The contest, witnessed by 1,072 fans, saw Radford improve to 8-6 overall while Hampton moved to 6-5. The victory was secured in the extra period after the Highlanders erased a late fourth-quarter deficit, forcing overtime on a driving layup by Joi Williams with 48 seconds remaining that tied the score at 59.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute of regulation. With Radford trailing 59-57, Hampton’s Aaryn Battle committed a turnover, which Williams promptly stole. The junior guard from Leesburg, Virginia, then drove the length of the court for the tying layup. Hampton had a chance to win it on its final possession, but Aisha Dabo’s pull-up jumper missed, sending the game to an extra five minutes.

Radford dominated the overtime period, outscoring Hampton 14-8. The Highlanders scored the first four points and never relinquished the lead. Key baskets from Angelina Nice and Georgia Simonsen, coupled with clutch free throws from Williams and Ellie Taylor, sealed the road victory. Hampton’s offense struggled in overtime, managing just three field goals.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout. Both teams shot under 40% from the field, with Radford converting 28 of 68 attempts and Hampton making 27 of 71. The Pirates’ shooting from beyond the arc was particularly costly, as they hit only 6 of 27 three-point attempts. Radford also forced 16 Hampton turnovers, converting them into key transition opportunities.

Williams led all scorers with 23 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Her performance was pivotal down the stretch, continuing a strong stretch of play after scoring 16 points against Concord and 18 against Ohio in her previous two games. Simonsen, a forward from Fairfax, Virginia, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Taylor contributed 13 points and six rebounds, while Cate Carlson added 12 points.

For Hampton, Dabo was a force, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 36 minutes. The 6-foot-2 center from Queens, New York, was a constant presence in the paint on both ends. Le’Asia Foreman of Norfolk, Virginia, controlled the glass with a game-high 14 rebounds to go with six points. Battle facilitated the offense with eight assists and 10 points, though her eight turnovers proved damaging. Kayla Lezama added 12 points.

The game featured eight ties and 10 lead changes. Hampton held a narrow 14-13 edge after a back-and-forth first quarter, but Radford used a 16-10 second quarter to take a 29-24 lead into halftime. The Pirates responded with their best offensive period in the third, outscoring Radford 19-15 to cut the deficit to 44-43 heading to the final quarter. The teams traded blows in the fourth, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Radford entered with a slight 52.6% probability to win. The Highlanders will look to build on the win when they visit Virginia Tech on Sunday. Hampton next plays at Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 29.