Preview: Hofstra women's basketball home for rivalry game
Long Island rivals reunite as the Hofstra University women’s basketball team hosts the Stony Brook University Seawolves for a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) showdown on Friday, Feb 2. The matchup will be a difficult test for the Pride as the Seawolves enter with a 16-2 overall record and Hofstra comes in on a six-game losing streak. The Pride are 7-11 overall and 1-6 in CAA play while Stony Brook is 6-1 in CAA play.
For Stony Brook, they are led by their stellar one-two-punch players in guard Gigi Gonzalez and center Khari Clark. Gonzalez is averaging 16.5 points, 5.6 assists and four rebounds per game while Clark is putting up 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Seawolves rank in the top 50 in most key offensive categories. Stony Brook is scoring 75.8 points per game, good enough for 44th in the nation. Additionally, the Seawolves are shooting 45% from the field which ranks 48th.
To combat Stony Brook’s high-powered offense, Hofstra will need to play a sound defense. Seniors Zyheima Swint, Brooke Anya and Ally Knights all average more than one steal per game. The Pride will look to clog passing lanes against the Seawolves who turn the ball over an average of 16 times per game.
The Pride enters the game looking to turn their losing streak around. Hofstra is led offensively by sophomore guard Emma Von Essen who averages 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists on the season. Zyheima Swint has also provided value on the glass all season, averaging 8.9 rebounds to go with 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals.
Hofstra will look to control the glass to compete and get second-chance scores. The Pride are outrebounding their opponents this season 40.1 to 34.7. Similarly, Stony Brook is outrebounding their opponents 42.8 to 35.3. Hofstra is ahead of Stony Brook in offensive rebounds per game, having three more offensive boards a night than the Seawolves.
Tip-off for this CAA rivalry is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman
