By Joe Pantorno, Sports Editor
Senior guard Nicole Capurso scored her 1,000th career point as a part of a 20-point effort in the Hofstra women’s basketball team’s 86-71 victory over Georgia State in the Pride’s Colonial Athletic Association opener on Sunday.
“To do it at Georgia State she played well. She played well last year but got into some foul trouble so I think she had some redemption,” said head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “She kept us in the game in the first half offensively. I’m proud that she got that half.”
Hofstra began clicking on all cylinders in the second half, using a 9-2 run to take the lead for good four minutes into the final stanza, as scoring efforts were coming from all over the roster.
Headlining the list, senior guard Candice Bellocchio scored 16 points, added eight assists, five rebounds and four steals.
“Candice Bellocchio stepped up,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “That’s when you know you have depth and you know you have some good things because you can shut somebody down and have others step Evans.”
Bond finished the game with eight points along with key contributions from freshman guard Andreana Thomas with 11 points, and 10 points from sophomore guard Katelyn Loper who played just 17 minutes after being held scoreless in the first half.
The defense made a large contribution as well, limiting Georgia State’s leading scorer, forward Chan Harris, to just 11 points.
“We did a phenomenal job on Chan Harris,” said Kilburn-Steveskey.
Hofstra improves to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
“It kind of sets the tone in the conference,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “It sets you up for positive feedback in the league and it sets a