With the core intact, Hofstra ready to make a run this season
After an improved 2020-21 campaign, the Hofstra women’s basketball team is ready to make moves this season. With several teams across the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) losing players, Hofstra’s core is still intact and they are ready to play.
“There’s a lot of potential in this team with the returns that we have, not only talent-wise but mindset-wise, this team is hungry for more and they want more,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson at CAA Media Day. “With our veteran leaders and senior leaders that we have going into the season, there’s a desire to make this a memorable one.”
Now in her third year with the Pride, Santos Atkinson is ready to make her mark at Hofstra and feels she has a team ready to make a run in the CAA.
“It’s a different feel this year going into this season,” Santos Atkinson said. “We’ve got a team that is excited and grateful to be having somewhat of a normal year.”
The Pride saw much improvement last year, finishing 8-12 (5-7 CAA) and earning a win over Towson University in the CAA Tournament. The shortened season, due to COVID-19, was cut even shorter for the Pride, as nine of their games were canceled: eight conference and one non-conference.
This year, the Pride’s schedule is back to the usual length and the team’s practices and workouts have, for the most part, felt normal again.
“Our offseason preparation has been great,” Santos Atkinson said. “I’ve really been proud of the effort and work that the team has put in. It’s been great to come into this year and have a normal summer season and somewhat normal preseason, which we weren’t able to have last year.”
The Pride opened the season on Wednesday, Nov. 10, on the road against the University at Albany. This is a team Hofstra had much success against a season ago, when they won their matchup 63-45 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra also sees two Power-five teams, one on the road at No. 17 Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and one at home against the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
With the starting five from last season – JaKayla Brown, Jaylen Hines, Jahsyni Knight, Jaala Henry and Rosi Nicholson – all back for this season, the Pride will also see Sorelle Ineza back on the court after missing last season with an injury.
“We’re just excited to have everyone back and healthy and be able to play,” Brown said. “We really enjoy playing with each other and I think that’s another thing that helps us on the court. We want to see each other do well and we want to celebrate the success of our teammates.”
Hofstra is also being noticed around the league. A season ago, the Pride were predicted to finish last in the conference. This season, Hofstra is slated to finish fifth. Brown also received preseason honors, being named to the All-CAA Second Team.
“[I’m] really thankful that I could be put in that position. Really thankful for my teammates and how they trust me and believe in me to lead this team and to my coaches,” Brown said. “It’s just motivation to want to reach for higher goals than just CAA Second Team. I want us to [do] well in conference, I want us to win and be successful and I want to be a part of our success this year.”
Brown averaged 16.3 points per game a season ago, tied for fourth most in the CAA.
“[Brown] is not only a great player in what she does and how she’s developed her game, but she’s also a great leader,” Santos Atkinson said.
Along with scoring, Hofstra has several players who ranked in the top 10 in categories across the CAA. Hines ranked ninth in rebounds per game with 7.4, while Brown and Hines ranked ninth and tenth, respectively, in the conference in free throw percentage.
The Pride also proved to be one of the top defensive teams in the league, leading the CAA in steals per game with 9.85. Knight finished second in the CAA in steals per game with 2.6 while Hines was fifth with 2.1. Henry averaged one block a game last year, ranking seventh in the league. Zyheima Swint also cracked the top 10 in blocks with .8 per game.
However, Hofstra still has work to do, and Santos Atkinson wants her team to continually grow throughout the season.
“As we approach each day, we know we’ve got goals for the season, but we want to be better that day than we were the day before,” Santos Atkinson said. “It’s a process, and we are continuing that process and continuing to build this program. With our veteran leadership, we’ve got goals, and we need to make sure we reach and exceed our expectations.”
Even with all the veteran leadership on the court, Santos Atkinson knows that it is still going to take the whole team to win.
“For us, we got a great balance within our team of those who will have impactful minutes and those that’ll be able to help us as we go through the season,” Santos Atkinson said. “It’s going to take all of us, so, one through 13 on our team, it is going to take all of us to come out and be successful.”
With the returning lineup the team has this season, the Pride is ready to make a run for the CAA Championship.
“The mentality that we have going into this season is one that we are going to get after it every single day, every single game, and we are going to prove it to ourselves,” Santos Atkinson said.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
