LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — The Campbell women’s basketball team built an overwhelming lead through three quarters and withstood a frantic final-period rally by Hampton to secure a 69-51 victory on Thursday night at John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center.

The Fightin’ Camels, now 19-11, appeared to be cruising toward a routine win after dominating the middle quarters, but had to fend off a determined push from the visiting Pirates, who cut a 27-point deficit down to just eight in the final minutes before Campbell closed the game on a decisive run.

Campbell’s victory was anchored by a dominant first-half performance. After a competitive opening period that ended with the Fightin’ Camels leading 17-8, they seized complete control in the second quarter. Campbell outscored Hampton 25-9 in the frame, fueled by efficient offense and disruptive defense. The home team shot over 50% from the floor in the first half while holding the Pirates to just 17 total points, taking a commanding 42-17 lead into the break.

Jasmine Felton, a 5-foot-11 guard from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, led all scorers with 13 points for Campbell, including a pair of three-pointers during the team’s second-quarter surge. Gianni Boone of Washington, D.C., added 11 points and four assists, orchestrating the offense effectively. Olivia Tucker from Durham, North Carolina, also chipped in 10 points.

The third quarter saw more of the same, as Campbell extended its lead to 65-33 heading into the final period. The Fightin’ Camels’ interior presence was decisive, outscoring Hampton 32-18 in the paint for the game, with 6-foot-3 center N’na Konate of Switzerland contributing six points and two blocks.

The most important part of the game, however, was Hampton’s unexpected and sustained fourth-quarter rally. Refusing to concede, the Pirates unleashed a 16-2 run over the first six and a half minutes of the final period. Sparked by the guard tandem of Olivia Smith and Kayla Lezama, Hampton’s defense forced Campbell into a series of rushed shots and turnovers, holding the Fightin’ Camels without a field goal for nearly seven minutes.

Smith, a 5-foot-5 guard from Fort Wayne, Indiana, played a game-high 36 minutes, leading Hampton with 11 points and five assists. Lezama, a 6-foot forward from Boston, scored all 10 of her points in the second half, including two three-pointers during the comeback attempt. Taylor Gibson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, added nine points for the Pirates.

Hampton’s surge brought them within eight points at 65-57 with 3:19 remaining, sending a jolt of tension through the arena and forcing a Campbell timeout. The comeback bid, however, stalled there. The Fightin’ Camels finally broke their scoring drought with a layup from Emerson Thompson of Butner, North Carolina, with 2:18 left. Campbell then clamped down defensively, holding Hampton scoreless for the next two minutes while adding a final jumper from Peris Smith in the closing seconds to seal the 69-51 final.

The victory improved Campbell’s record to 19-11, while Hampton fell to 10-19. The game was played in front of 907 fans. Campbell entered the contest as a heavy favorite, with statistical models giving them a 94.30 percent probability to win.

Campbell will look to carry the momentum into its regular-season finale at home against Stony Brook on Saturday. Hampton returns home to host William & Mary on the same day to conclude its season. The Fightin’ Camels swept the season series, having also defeated the Pirates 58-43 on Jan. 23.