By Ed Morrone
Right now, every win for the Hofstra women’s basketball is the biggest one in program history. Last night’s most recent WNIT victory was no different.
After going on the road to knock off SEC-participant South Carolina, 64-59, the Pride continued to add to its 2007 postseason resume, which also includes a home win over Big East member Seton Hall. A year removed from its first ever postseason berth (Hofstra beat Stony Brook before being eliminated by Villanova in last year’s WNIT), the team that used to not be able to sniff postseason play continued its unprecedented run toward a tournament title.
“[Athletic Director] Jack [Hayes] told me this is the biggest win in program history, and I guess he’s right,” first-year head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey said. “It certainly is a great feeling to go on the road and win in an atmosphere like this.”
In a match-up of two seniorladen teams (the Pride has four seniors to South Carolina’s seven), Hofstra came out on top in what was a close game throughout. Seniors Lizanne Murphy and Vanessa Gidden led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively, but it was fellow senior Lana Harshaw’s jumper with 5:26 to play that gave Hofstra (26-7) a 52-50 lead it would not relinquish.
As the only CAA team still playing is finding out, it never hurts to have a plethora of experienced players down the stretch.
“That was a huge shot for Lana,” said Kilburn-Steveskey, whose team will play the winner of tonight’s game between Western Kentucky and Mississippi State in the WNIT quarterfinals. “She’s been battling knee injuries and she’s really hung in there. But I’ve been running plays for everyone down the stretch, because I trust all of these girls.”
The four seniors, who undoubtedly see the end in sight, stepped up in a big way in scoring 53 of Hofstra’s 64 points against the Gamecocks (18-15). But the Pride also received quality contributions from sophomore Niki Williams (four points, eight rebounds, nine assists, three steals), sophomore Natty Fripp (a big three-point shot in the first half) and freshman Sam Brigham, whose intense defense was surely a factor in South Carolina’s 34 percent shooting mark from the field.
“Hofstra’s defensive game plan was great,” Gamecocks head coach Susan Walvius said. “They were an SEC physical team, which they needed to be because of our size. Their execution was excellent.”
Hofstra was able to deter South Carolina’s balanced attack (the Gamecocks had seven players score at least six points, led by Lauren Simms’ 12) with its defense and ability to make big shots in a hostile road environment. After Harshaw’s big shot, Williams, Murphy and Cigi McCollin all hit big shots from the field or the free throw line.
“The attention of these players the last two weeks has been relentless,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “They want to keep playing. The biggest thing is we’re playing with no stress and going after it with no worries.”
The only thing that Hofstra knows at this point about either of its next two potential opponents is that they will be playing either team on the road. With three wins standing between Hofstra and a WNIT title, the unpredictable road schedule would seemingly be taxing on the team. But that’s not the case for the Pride.
“The travel is a bit much,” Kilburn-Steveskey admitted. “But we enjoy the suspense and we feel comfortable on the road. We’re taking it in stride and we’ll go wherever we have to in order to get the next win.”
As for what happens next, Hofstra will simply check out tonight’s game between the Hilltoppers and Bulldogs and see where they have to go next. But until that happens, they’ll allow themselves to enjoy the moment as well as the biggest wins in program history.
“I can’t even tell you how I feel,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “I feel numb. I’m so proud of all of them.”
Vanessa Gidden and the Pride are reaching new heights in the WNIT.