HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — Aaryn Battle scored 23 points and Kayla Lezama added 18 as the Hampton women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Stony Brook 63-54 on Friday night at the Convocation Center.

The Pirates, who trailed by one point after the first quarter, used a decisive 18-point third quarter to seize control and improve their season record to 7-6. The Seawolves dropped to 5-9 with the loss, their fourth in the last five games.

Stony Brook opened the game with purpose, establishing an early inside presence. Johanna Potter scored on the game’s first possession off a feed from Diaka Berete, setting a tone for a quarter that saw the Seawolves lead 16-15. The visitors maintained a narrow edge through much of the first half, with Potter and Janay Brantley providing consistent scoring. A late second-quarter three-pointer from Battle, however, gave Hampton its first significant momentum swing, sending the Pirates into halftime with a 32-30 advantage.

The pivotal stretch came after the break. Hampton’s defense tightened, forcing Stony Brook into rushed shots and costly turnovers. Battle, a 5-foot-10 guard from Sewell, New Jersey, was instrumental on both ends, contributing a steal and a block in the third period while also facilitating the offense. Her backcourt partner, Lezama, caught fire from the perimeter. The 6-foot sophomore from Boston connected on a three-pointer early in the quarter and continued to find seams in the Seawolves’ defense.

Hampton outscored Stony Brook 18-12 in the third, stretching the lead to 50-42. The Pirates’ lead ballooned to as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. Each time Stony Brook threatened to close the gap, Hampton had an answer, often from Battle or Lezama. A critical sequence occurred with just over four minutes remaining when Lezama hit a pull-up jumper, followed by a defensive stop and a driving layup from Battle to push the lead to 59-52, effectively sealing the game.

Battle’s all-around line included three assists and two blocks in 39 minutes of action. Lezama added two assists and a block to her 18-point effort. Kiarra Mcelrath provided a key spark off the bench for Hampton, scoring 10 points.

For Stony Brook, Potter led the way with 16 points. Brantley finished with 13 points and two assists, while point guard Sandra Frau-Garcia of Pego, Spain, contributed 10 points and four assists but was hampered by seven turnovers against persistent Hampton pressure.

The Seawolves struggled to find an offensive rhythm after the first quarter, shooting under 35 percent from the field for the game. Their efforts to mount a late comeback were repeatedly thwarted by the Pirates’ defense, which recorded eight blocks and nine steals.

A crowd of 516 at the Convocation Center saw Hampton win its second straight home game. The Pirates will look to build on the victory when they travel to face Elon on Sunday. Stony Brook continues its road trip with a visit to William & Mary on Sunday.