By PJ Potter — ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
For the first time this season, five players on the Hofstra women’s basketball team tallied double-digit points to rout the College of Charleston 66-54 on Senior Day.
Seniors Asia Jackson, Darius Faulk, Anjie White, Sydni Epps, Jakelle King-Gilchrist and Dee Thomas-Palmer were honored in a pregame ceremony celebrating their careers with the Pride. Faulk, White and King-Gilchrist were the only ones of the five to log minutes in the game.
Thanks to a dominant first quarter, the Pride managed to hold on to their 21st win of the season, improving their record to 12-5 in the CAA. Hofstra outscored the Cougars 19-8 in the opening frame, while the rest of the game was close with Hofstra edging Charleston 47-46 in the final three quarters, though they never trailed at any point. Charleston went on a 9-2 run to end the first half and a 12-0 swing approaching the final two minutes of regulation.
“We didn’t play our best in the second half, but we got the win. I’m just very proud and happy to get the win on Senior Day,” Hofstra head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey said.
Faulk and Durant each notched a double-double for the game. Faulk, in her first career game with a double-double, totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
“[During] pregame, Coach K[rista Kilburn-Steveskey] had all of the seniors crying, saying how much she’s going to miss us … I had to bottle the emotions and come out and play for my team,” Faulk said.
Durant, who is second in the Colonial Athletic Association with 9.2 rebounds per game, added 10 points and 16 boards in her ninth game this year with a double-double.
Jakelle King-Gilchrist fell short of her season-high 15 points by just one against Charleston, which happened on opening day against Navy.
King-Gilchrist also dished out three assists and grabbed five boards.
“Jakelle stepped up for us today,” Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey said regarding Hofstra’s 22 turnovers, the damage of which King-Gilchrist was able to limit.
Other key players were Anjie White and Krystal Luciano. White scored 14 points on her Senior Day. But Coach Steveskey hopes White will return next year considering she is a redshirt junior.
Luciano stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.
For the College of Charleston, Breanna Bolden led all scorers with 15 points on top of eight rebounds and five steals. Jackie Luna-Castro contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.
Hofstra ends their regular season play March 2 in Boston against Northeastern.
“We have to be ready for Wednesday and I know [the team] want[s] to write 22 [wins] on the board … So, I’m putting this on my seniors and on my leaders,” Coach Kilburn-Steveskey said.
