The Hofstra University women’s basketball team fell 65-51 to the Campbell University Fighting Camels on Sunday, Feb. 25, at the John W. Pope Jr. Convention Center in Blues Creek, North Carolina. The Pride dropped to 9-16 on the season and 3-11 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play, while the Fighting Camels improved their record to 14-11 with a 7-7 mark in the conference.
This was the second showdown between Hofstra and Campbell, as the latter are in their first season in the CAA.
It was a very tight game through three quarters before the Fighting Camels blew it open in the fourth. While the Pride never held the lead in the first half, they managed to keep it close, with their largest deficit being 10 points early in the first quarter. Zyheima Swint scored 10 of her season-high 15 points in the first half to help keep Hofstra afloat. After a first quarter where Campbell outscored the Pride 19-13, Hofstra took control of the second to bring the score within one point at halftime.
The third quarter was a defensive affair in which each team only scored eight points. There were multiple stretches of play over two minutes where the game consisted of missed shots or turnovers.
The fourth quarter was a much different story. Campbell opened the frame on an 8-0 run and never looked back, seizing control of the game and never letting their lead dip below seven points.
Swint led the team in scoring and rebounds with 15 points and eight rebounds. She currently sits at No. 2 in the CAA with eight rebounds per game, trailing Towson University’s Kylie Kornegay-Lucas.
Another member of the Pride who is having a prolific rebounding season is Brooke Anya, who pulled down five boards to go with seven points and a team-leading four assists. Anya currently leads the conference with 3.8 offensive rebounds per game and is No. 8 in total rebounds with 7.3 per game.
Emma Von Essen had a quiet day, only taking four shots in 33 minutes. This marks the fourth time in seven games that she has been held to single digits.
Campbell’s offensive attack was led by Shy Tuelle, Campbell’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers. She put up a season-high 20 points on 70% shooting, along with four rebounds and three assists. Brittany Staves was not far behind Tuelle, with 14 points of her own.
Anchoring the Camel’s defense was Gemma Núñez, who led the team with five rebounds and two steals. Núñez led the team in minutes played with 38 and added 5 points on the offensive end.
Despite not scoring any points, Audrey Fuller made a massive impact offensively for Campbell, setting a career-high with six assists in just 16 minutes on the floor.
The Pride dropped to No. 12 in the conference, just one game out of the cellar, while Campbell sits at No. 7 in the conference. Hofstra has entered the home stretch of their season as only four games remain until the conference tournament. The Pride will welcome the Hampton University Pirates to Hempstead on Friday, March 1. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Evan Bernstein
