By Christian Heimall, Contributing Reporter
This past week the Hofstra Pride went on a five day road trip trough Virginia that was expected to be the "make or break" portion of the conference slate. While Hofstra didn't come out of the Commonwealth unscathed, they didn't leave bruised and battered either. On Thursday night they defeated previously top 25 James Madison in overtime 69-62 but fell three days later in Norfolk to perennial power Old Dominion by a final of 51-46.
"I'm really proud but the whole time I kept saying we don't want any moral victories," said Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Stevesky after the loss to the Lady Monarchs. "I don't think anyone is better than us in this league, hands down."
And the Pride proved that over the course of the week, especially on defense. In Harrisonburg, Hofstra picked up their first win at JMU since the 2003-04 season largely in part to holding the nation's top scorer, Dawn Evans, to just 15 points (only 3 in the first half). On Sunday, the blue and gold forced Old Dominion to make over 20 turnovers and kept their second leading scorer,Shadaisa Green, in to just 3 total points in the contest.
The win over the Dukes was propelled by a strong second half from Senior guard Sam Brigham and accelerated by freshman guard Candace Bond in overtime. Brigham scored a game high 19 points in the victory, which ties her season high. Brigham also went 10-10 from the free throw line in the contest as Hofstra's ability to get to the charity stripe made the comeback possible. The Dukes were a respectable 13 of 22 from the line but Hofstra converted on 30 of their 36 chances from the free throw line. Brigham also scored the game tying layup in regulation and then stole the ball on the next James Madison possession to force an overtime period. "Sam has been consistent as the Northern Star," said Kilburn - Stevesky of her senior.
In the extra frame it was a freshman, Candace Bond, who stole the spotlight from her senior backcourt mate. A Fort Washington, Maryland native, Bond scored all seven of her points in the extra five minutes which boosted Hofstra to the seven point victory. "She has an explosive first step, you saw the defensive pressure of her all year long," Kilburn-Stevesky commented after the game. "I was teasing her asking what kind of Kool-aid she was drinking at pregame and I know it's red so we'll have to do that again." Hofstra had three other scorers join Brigham in double-figures as point guard Candice Bellochio had 15 points, Aamira Terry poured in 11 and freshman forward Shante Evans scored 10 to go along with her 8 rebounds in the win.
Sunday in Norfolk was much of the same, strong defensive pressure. Hofstra jumped out to an early 5-0 lead over the Lady Monarchs and battled back and forth before going into the halftime break trailing four at 21-17. Hofstra would come out in the second half utilizing a 9-2 run take the lead back at 29-28. Late in the ballgame however, Hofstra led the Monarchs 44-41 before watching Old Dominion score eight straight points to take a five point lead with 27 seconds to play. The Pride were unable to make enough shots and get enough stops down the stretch to comeback for the second straight game.
Shante Evans was the leading scorer for the Pride with 18 points and 8 rebounds continuing her push for conference Rookie of the Year. The next leading scorer for Hofstra was Candice Bellochio who had 7 points to go along with 6 assists. Hofstra shot over 46% from the field in the second half compared to ODU's 37% but the Pride committed 20 personal fouls forcing the Lady Monarchs to shoot 21 free throws, making 13 of them. Hofstra finished the contest going 6-7 from the charity stripe, all of them shot by Evans.
Old Dominion, coming of their first year not winning the CAA tournament in 18 seasons, was led by Jasmine Parker's 14 points and Tia Lewis' 12. "We stopped Shadaisa Green, she was one for twelve folks," commented the 4th year head coach. "She is the second leading scorer; this should have been our ballgame." Green, who averages over 10 points per game, scored just 3 against Hofstra.
One of the low points for Hofstra in recent games has been the statistical absence of Senior Center Jess Fuller on the offensive side of the floor. In her last nine games, Fuller has scored in double figures in only three games and has not scored more than seven points in the other six. "I thought Jess had some great looks to the basket," said Kilburn-Stevesky. "We just got to get Jess Fuller back." Despite the need for Fuller on offense, her defensive prowess has been astonishing throughout her career. A transfer from Monroe Community College in upstate New York, Fuller had two blocks against Old Dominion giving her 175 for her career tying her for Hofstra's record set by Vanessa Gidden (2003-07).
Fuller has a chance to break that record this Thursday night (February 4th) in Fairfax, Virginia as Hofstra finishes up their 3-game road swing against the George Mason Patriots. "I think Coach (Faisal) Kahn did a good job talking to the girls after the game," said Kilburn-Stevesky. "He said ‘you guys were up ready to play James Madison, ready to play Old Dominion. Now what are you going to do? You're going to go on the road and let George Mason hang around?'" Hofstra enters the contest with a record of 11-10, 4-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association while the Patriots are 8-12 overall, 1-8 in conference and have lost 4 straight this season. The Pride have won two of the last three games against George Mason including a twelve point victory last year at the Patriot Center.
(Sean M. Gates/ The Chronicle)