By Joe Pantorno (Editor-in-Chief) UPPER MARLBORO, MD- “Sheesh,” thought Deven Green.
The senior backup forward was on the bench and just saw her teammate and All-CAA First Team member Shante Evans pick up her second foul in just four minutes into Hofstra women's basketball's conference quarterfinal match-up against Northeastern.
Guarding the ever physical Jewel Tunstull and trying to absorb as much early Northeastern pressure as possible, Evans had her work cut out for her.
Well, now that was Green’s job. She was checking in to replace Evans.
“I knew I had to pick her [Evans] up,” said Green. “I didn’t want to put the team necessarily on my back, but I just wanted to do my best and do my best Shante impression.”
Her Evans impression was indeed uncanny.
In 17 minutes, Green recorded 11 points, seven of them coming in the first half when Evans was benched for almost 15 minutes. She provided the stability, physical play and finishing prowess that Hofstra desperately needed in its 57-52 victory over the Huskies.
Down as many as nine in the first, Green kept Hofstra within striking distance of Northeastern with a brand of athletic play that hasn’t always been exhibited from the forward.
Whether it was circus lay-ups in which she sent attempt down by her waist up and in or grabbing key offensive rebounds to keep the Hofstra attack alive, Green was doing it all.
“We needed that kind of bench support,” said head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “That’s what teammates do.”
The transfer from Boston University might have not gotten all the playing time she hoped for, but her play, no matter how long on the floor has been impactful all season.
Going into Friday afternoon, Green had appeared in 20 games, starting eight and accruing 15.6 minutes per game. She has averaged 5.1 points per game and 3.1 rebounds all while shooting 49.5% from the field.
Saturday brings a semifinal match-up against no. 1 seeded Delaware that might take a Cinderella story to see Hofstra go through. While Evans left some big shoes to be filled on Friday, at least for one day in Upper Marlboro, Deven Green made the shoe fit for Hofstra.