The Hofstra University women’s basketball team lost its fourth game in a row in a 72-53 defeat to East Carolina University on Saturday, Nov. 28. The Pride now sit at 1-5 in the season, and last in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings. This is Hofstra’s worst record in its first six games since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, where the Pride held the same 1-5 record.
“We had a tough start there,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “[We] really put ourselves in a hole. When you look at that second quarter, third quarter [and] fourth quarter, I think we played much better basketball.”
Hofstra has struggled during the beginning of the matches during the entire season so far, averaging just 23.2 points in the first half of losses. The second half of games hasn’t been much better, with the team averaging just 27.5 points in the second half of all the games throughout the season. However, the offense as a whole looks more coherent during the second half of a game, even though the Pride has averaged 53.8 points per game, which is dead last in the CAA. A combination of turnovers and missed opportunities for easy baskets has been killing the Pride.
“We still have work to do [and] still have to get healthy,” Santos said. “I thought they did a much better job with [competing and not rolling over] this game and coming out after getting ourselves into that hole.”
Despite letting up 72 points, the Pride’s defense was able to force 15 turnovers throughout the game. Forward Ayen Angoi led the game with four total steals and blocks, followed by Alarice Gooden with three. Gooden made 10 points and four rebounds while logging 37 minutes.
Hofstra’s leading scorer and rebounder, forward Sandra Magolico, was only on the court for 13 minutes, after which she fouled out of the game. This was a huge hit to every aspect of the Pride’s play. Her offensive and defensive presence is something that Hofstra needs all game long. The Pride can’t afford to lose her for tough games like this one.
Even though senior guard Emma Von Essen is having a quiet start to the season, she eclipsed 100 games played for Hofstra in her collegiate career, pushing her closer to the top 10. Von Essen is on pace to finish her Hofstra career with 126 games played, after which she would be tied for fifth of all time with Cigi McCollin.
“We get to play [the University of Maryland],” Santos said. “We get to come out here and play a great East Carolina team. All those things are only preparing us for our ultimate goal, come CAA Tournament time.”
The Pride will take on Fordham University on Saturday, Dec. 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. This will be their first matchup since 2020. Fordham leads the all-time series 10-7.
