The Hofstra University women’s basketball team cleared a path to a win against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Black Knights, 54-43, on Tuesday, Nov.18.
“Another win that we gutted out,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “I thought we had a great start to the game; I thought first half, statistically, we were right where we wanted to be.”
In a low-scoring game, the Pride pulled out a gritty win, although both teams struggled in many places offensively. Hofstra now stands at a 4-2 record through six games while Army falls to 2-5 in the season.
Emma Von Essen sliced and diced her way through the field, leading the Pride with 11 points and six rebounds while also clearing her way in the paint and going 5-10 from the floor. Sorelle Ineza and Zyheima Swint both assisted with eight points. Swint also secured eight rebounds behind Anya Brooke, who led the team with nine.
Hofstra only managed to shoot 22.2% from the 3-point line, but the team hit their mark from the field goal range with 40% of their shots, resulting in 22-55 made baskets.
“We had opportunities right there at the rim that we missed, and we want to be able to finish those easy basket opportunities,” Santos said. We also turned the ball over 16 times, but we had great contributions off the bench to score and execute. We didn’t shoot very well from the [3-point line], but we are very capable of doing so.”
Along with their offense, the Pride held Army to 4-18 from the 3-point line and only 22 shots made from the field.
The Knights’ Reese Ericson led her team as the only double-digit scorer with 11 points and five rebounds. Kya Smith also paced Army with eight rebounds, but their efforts were no match for Hofstra’s suffocating defense.
The Pride held the Knights to less than 15 points in all four quarters and a mere six points in the second quarter alone. Hofstra pulled away in the first quarter, scoring 18 points, but struggled in the third, letting the game slip away by only scoring six points.
“Third quarter we let it get away from us,” Santos said. “Credit to Army and the rally that they had.”
Hofstra’s 18 points in the fourth quarter ultimately pulled them ahead of Army.
“Going into the fourth we had to sure up those turnovers and limit those 3-point shots,” Santos said. “In the fourth, we didn’t give up any made [3-pointers] and limited the turnovers and the offensive rebounds.”
Hofstra now has a couple of days off to get ready for the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on Sunday, Dec. 2, back at home in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
