By Brian Bohl
Midway through the first half, a bird fluttered into the Mack Sports Complex, settling into the empty student section. The moment was symbolic, since both the fowl and the Hofstra women’s basketball team operated without any clear direction Sunday afternoon
The Pride’s growing pains continued, as a roster featuring six underclassmen and four juniors committed nearly twice as many turnovers as field goals. Hofstra still built a nine-point lead at halftime that was eventually squandered thanks to 31.4 percent shooting from the field in an ugly 64-53 loss to Georgia State in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup.
“We’ve been a decent press-breaking team. It isn’t the press break. It’s us being timid in it right now,” coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey after watching her team commit 32 turnovers. “We shot the ball terribly in the second half. We have to play better than that.”
Both teams entered the contest with 3-12 records, a product of losing key seniors from the previous campaign. No seniors started for either team, contributing to a rough start in which the two schools opened by shooting a collective 4-30 from the field. Georgia State turned it over 27 times, contributing to an ugly effort in which the schools combined for 59 turnovers.
But the Pride (3-13, 1-4 CAA) still had a chance to win for just the second time since Nov. 23, holding the lead with four minutes remaining. The Panthers, lead by sophomore Danyiell McKeller’s game-high 19 points, finished with a 20-7 run.
In a telling statistic, Hofstra’s 32 turnovers only tied a season-high (Dec. 21 against Southern Methodist). Starting center Kristina Campbell couldn’t provide a low-post presence, picking up five fouls in just six minutes of action to force her to the bench for most the game. Brtine Rodgers also sat for most the game, playing just 16 minutes after being charged with four fouls.
“We don’t have enough depth to deal with that kind of stuff,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “We need them on the floor. We needed Campbell on the floor and we didn’t have her. We need size inside.”
Georgia State recorded a 32-18 advantage in points in the paint and also held the edge in second chance scoring.
Kilburn-Steveskey used up three timeouts in the first 5:47 in the second half. The stoppages failed to stem Georgia State’s momentum, which grew with an 11-2 run to tie it at 31 after the Panthers went into the locker room down 29-20 at the half.
An ill-advised player timeout used up the quota for Hofstra with 10:35 remaining, depriving the coaching staff a tool that might have helped stem the late momentum that propelled the Panthers to the win.
Niki Williams stole the ball and converted a lay-up to give Hofstra a 45-44 lead with 4:09 left. Williams and Sam Brigham were the only two Pride players to score in double figures as the team made 3-17 three pointers and finished 16-51 from the field.
Following Williams’ basket, Georgia State scored the next eight points, including Traci Haltiwanger’s (10 points) key three-ball to make it 52-45. Brittany Hollins and Shay Rawls were the other two Panthers to reach the double figure scoring mark.
Hofstra will travel to Virginia to play James Madison on Thursday night.