Hofstra women's basketball continues to struggle in CAA play

To end January, the Hofstra University women’s basketball team lost 67-62 in a near comeback for the Pride against the Hampton University Lady Pirates. The Pride now has a 7-11 overall record and a 1-6 record in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The Lady Pirates clawed out their second win of the year, claiming a 2-15 overall record and a 2-5 CAA record on the year.

“I’m disappointed in how we took care of the ball,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “This team is more than capable, and this team has it.”

Emma Von Essen led the team with 18 points, shooting 7-11 from the field and 4-6 from the 3-point line. She continued to showcase her shooting prowess, especially in the fourth quarter when the Pride tried to make a comeback.

Besides Von Essen, Ally Knights and Sorelle Ineza contributed nine points each in the loss. Ja’Miyah Bryant aided in the paint with seven points and a season-high nine rebounds behind Zyheima Swint’s 12 rebounds.

Turnovers continue to derail the Pride with 33 on the day. The Lady Pirates scored 35 points off those turnovers due to their own pressure and mistakes at the hands of Hofstra.

“I think it was both,” Santos said. “When you have 33 turnovers, it’s a combination, but [the Lady Pirates] got after it and I’m sure that was the game plan. But sometimes it’s the mental errors – where we can handle the pressure, whether it comes or not, and have that mental toughness. If we have half of those turnovers and shoot 45%, it’s a different ball game.”

Hofstra trailed most of the game with some gain in the second quarter, but they could not get over the hump. Hofstra's defense held the Lady Pirates to 11% from the 3-point line, but foul trouble led to 65% shooting from the line for Hampton.

In the fourth quarter, Hampton led 49-41 over the Pride. The Lady Pirates seemed to take the game away with their 61-43 lead after a free throw by Camryn Hill. Von Essen then drained two straight 3-pointers to climb back from an 18-point deficit. Bryant also showed off her skills in the paint with a pair of layups to inch the Pride closer.

In a 64-60 game, Hofstra found themselves in the thick of a comeback and on the precipice of tying the game. A pair of free throws by the Lady Pirates’ Hill and Hofstra’s Knights put the score at 66-62 with 24 seconds left. However, Hampton’s Cheyenne Talbot sealed the game at 67-62 with a final free throw.

Hofstra will take their struggles back home to Hempstead, New York, for a match-up with their Long Island rival, the Stony Brook University Seawolves, on Friday, Feb. 2. The Pride will tip-off at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at 7 p.m., hoping to shake off a six-game losing streak.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman