By Bob Bonett
It was the third annual Battle for Long Island for the women’s basketball team with Stony Brook coming to the Mack Sports Complex. Moreover, it was an opportunity for coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey and the women to bounce back from a loss to Long Island University, and move back to the .500 mark on the season.
Out of the gates, though, nothing went well for the Pride, and when the final horn sounded, Hofstra found themselves out-matched, out-played, and silenced by the Seawolves, falling by 16 points, 64-48.
“I felt like we were really just throwing shots up,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “We’re a little black and white some times. We push and run too much and don’t really make good shots in transition.”
From the beginning, the Pride never managed to stay close with Stony Brook. The Seawolves scored 23 of the first 31 points, and led with just over 5:00 left in the first half by 16, 28-12. And leading to a majority of Stony Brook’s scoring opportunities were numerous turnovers by Hofstra-29 on the night, including 17 in the first half-a problem that has plagued the young team much of the season.
Also hurting Hofstra was the shooting game of the Seawolves coupled with the Pride’s inability to make baskets. In the first half alone, Stony Brook shot over 50 percent from the floor, while Hofstra missed 21 of their 27 attempts.
The theme continued into the second half for Hofstra as well. Guard Sam Brigham, usually one of the team’s sharpest shooters, hit only three of her 14 shots, while Natty Fripp shot only 20 percent from the floor.
This resulted in point guard Niki Williams having to shoulder much of the scoring load, something the junior is not accustomed to. She responded well, leading the team in scoring with 16 points coupled with six rebounds, but her efforts alone were not enough for Hofstra.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle for Hofstra to overcome was the absence of center Jess Fuller. The team’s biggest player, best rebounder, and oftentimes top scorer left a big hole in the middle of the court that replacement Kristina Campbell had trouble filling.
“When Campbell got in foul trouble, you look down the bench and you don’t have much size to work with,” Kilburn-Steveskey said, alluding to the injuries of Fuller and fellow center Christina Biedny.
Fuller’s absence from the action was due to a foot injury she aggravated during the week. but Kilburn-Steveskey refused to point at the injury as a reason for the Pride’s loss, though.
“It’s the nature of the sport. It was a bad blow to the team but that wasn’t what caused [the loss],” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “I really didn’t think we were going to be flat. I felt like the team was ready; they were motivated. The thing is you have to do it on the court.”
Hofstra managed to come together in the second half, finishing the game on a 21-13 run behind a strong finish from Williams, and some contributions from freshmen, including guard Aamira Terry and forward Ashley Wilcots. Yet, while Kilburn-Steveskey said Terry and Wilcots showed improvement, she still was disappointed with the play of another freshman, guard Candice Bellocchio.
“I kept a lot of the young kids in there a lot tonight. If we’re going to get nailed, my kids need to be learning right here. Aamira Terry fought, Ashley Wilcots played after she made a really good turnaround in practice.” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “Candice Bellocchio’s got to play through. She’s still not even showing one tenth of what she can do.”
Hofstra is next in action this weekend when they travel north to take on Hartford University, and Kilburn-Steveskey hinted that there may be some turnover in the lineup as conference play approaches.
“We’ve got to keep going back to the film and challenging the lineup. The thing is right now nobody should be comfortable at any position they are at because nobody is blowing the doors open,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “I need more from my upperclassmen…I’m just left scratching my head.”