NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – Senior Denise Hamilton scored 15 points to lead four in double figures as the Apprentice School Lady Builders held off a pesky Goucher Gopher squad for a 69-64 win in the 2011-12 home opener on Tuesday night.

Goucher held an early advantage before a Courtney Collins jumper with 15:04 left put Apprentice School up 3-2.  The teams traded small advantages before the hosts went on an 11-2 over a 3:16 span as Jasmine Pringle hit a free throw for a 22-13 lead.  That advantage grew to 11 points as Tamara Davis' layup off a Christina Licano feed gave Apprentice School a 28-17 lead.

In the second half, Goucher cut an eight-point halftime deficit to three on a Kiara Doughty jumper with 17:02 left for a 35-32 Apprentice lead.  The Lady Builders responded with an 11-2 run over a 6:20 span to push that lead to 46-34 on a pair of Collins free throws.  That lead grew to 54-39 on a Hamilton layup with 7:20 left, but the Gophers kept clawing back and trimmed that five on three occasions.  Apprentice School hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last 30 seconds to hold them at bay.

Davis added 14 with six rebounds and Collins chipped in 13 points.  Junior Martika Williams added 10 points, game-high seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Lady Builders who hit 51% from the floor (26-of-51).  Goucher was topped by Sharnell Huff with 19 points, Elizabeth von Ende with 17 and Doughty with 13 and a team-best seven rebounds along with four steals.

Apprentice School now will host the annual Great Ships Tipoff Classic on Friday night facing Christendom College in the 8 pm game.  Southern Virginia will face Penn State Fayette in the 6 pm opener on Friday.