By Brian Bohl
Candice Bellocchio raced down the court, forcing the defender to commit early. Bellocchio quickly slipped a lateral pass that hit Ashley Wilcots in stride, setting up an easy layup to complete the two-on-one break early in the second half. That one play led to an easy basket.
But for the Pride, the connection could be a harbinger of a bright future.
Hofstra (5-23, 3-14 CAA) capped off senior day with a 58-43 victory over UNC Wilmington Sunday afternoon. While the pregame festivities honored the veteran players, it was the freshmen who helped the Pride snap an eight-game losing streak in the final contest of the season at the Mack Sports Complex.
Bellocchio contributed nine points and three assists running the offense. Fellow frosh Britné Rodgers complemented the guard play by notching her fourth double-double of the campaign. The forward scored 16 points and hauled in 15 rebounds. Wilcots, another freshman, added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey normally sees her team struggle with turnovers. Yet the Pride consistently generated the pressure, forcing 28 Seahawks’ giveaways. Rodgers provided a presence in the low post, creating room along the perimeter for Bellocchio and junior Natty Fripp (12 points).
In hopes of building for the future, the defensive style could be the key to a rebound season in 2008-09.
Wilmington shot just 28 percent from the field and didn’t hit a single three-pointer. The Seahawks shot 17.9 percent in the second-half, making just five baskets as Hofstra heads on the road for a back-to-back set against the first place CAA club.
No. 11 Old Dominion will look to finish the regular season 17-0 against the conference in the regular season finale against the Pride Thursday night.
With Hofstra in last place, the two schools are set to meet up again in the first round of the CAA Tournament held in Delaware.
Before the opening tipoff, seniors India Ali and Linn Quamme were honored in a ceremony.
The two also received starts in their final home game and received an ovation from the crowd of 318 people when they headed to the bench with 43.4 seconds remaining. Ali logged two points and four steals in 22 minutes in her second start of the season. Quamme finished with two rebounds in 14 minutes.
Hofstra led by as much as 15 before Wilmington cut the lead to four with 3:34 left. Brittany Blackwell, the only Seahawk to score in double figures, hit one of two free throws to make it 47-43.
Bellocchio answered by drawing contact and hitting both free throws, securing the victory.