Preview: Hofstra women's basketball hosts UNCW to start CAA play

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team looks to start 2024 off with a bang as they host the UNC-Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks on Friday, Jan. 5.

 Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson’s team ended 2023 with a 53-45 loss to Manhattan College Jaspers before the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. With that loss, Hofstra begins the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) wing of the schedule with this game, entering with six wins and six losses.

 Despite the loss, Zyheima Swint had her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Emma Von Essen also finished with double-digit points against the Jaspers on Dec. 31. Ally Knights led Hofstra in assists again with seven in the contest.

 Entering Hofstra’s 13th game of the season, Von Essen leads the team in points per game at 14.5. Swint leads with an average of 10.0 rebounds per game. Knights continues to be the set-up player, averaging 4.9 assists per game.

 UNCW has struggled so far this year, going 2-9 and having not won a game since Nov. 29 against Winthrop University.

 The Seahawks are coming off a blowout loss of 96-55 to the Norfolk State University Spartans on Dec. 28. Even with the big loss, four UNCW players hit double-digits on the scoreboard. Evan Miller led the way with 20 points. McCall King had 11 points while both Mary Ferrito and Kylah Silver had 10.

For UNCW, Taylor Henderson is the sharpshooter leading her team, averaging 13.2 points per game. Ferrito is averaging 3.1 assists per game to lead the Seahawks, and the rebound leader is Lexi Jackson at 8.7 per game.

Both teams are looking to start the calendar year and the CAA schedule off strong with a victory after having suffered defeats.

Tip-off at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman