The Hofstra women’s basketball team won 74-71 against the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks, extending their home record to 3-0 on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Strong performances from Brandy Thomas and Zyheima Swint, who both contributed 19 points, led the team to the win.
“I’m really proud of how this team fought back and played,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “Our emphasis for this year has been getting ourselves off to a better start; I thought we did that today and came out firing.”
In the first quarter, the Pride came out rolling with a quick 6-0 lead from Swint’s repeated movements in the paint.
Hofstra continued to fire on all cylinders, taking their lead to a commanding 17-2 advantage after Rosi Nicholson hit a mid-range jumper on a fast break. The defense held its ground by only allowing eight points in the first quarter. As the offense sustained their lead, another lay-up from Swint ended the quarter 24-8.
The second quarter started with a quick offensive rebound and a crafty layup from Swint to extend Hofstra’s lead 26-8. However, LIU decided to take the ball back into their court with Mariah Elohim’s back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to 28-21.
The Sharks kept their second-quarter energy up into the third, exemplified by two free throws from Shyan Mwai to put LIU within two points of the Pride, 28-26. Emaia O’Brien’s defensive rebound and midrange jumper tied the game at 28 to cap the Sharks’ 20-3 run. Hofstra regained possession and quickly retook the lead off a layup in the paint by Kayle Joseph-Bernard. Even when the Sharks had the upper hand, the Pride prevailed, going into halftime with a razor-thin 33-32 lead.
The third quarter unraveled into a more competitive game as both teams traded shot-for-shot. The Pride still held their own with a two-pointer from Nicholson stretching the lead 40-36. Hofstra’s defense slipped up again, and the Sharks capitalized on this moment of vulnerability with Ashley Austin’s slick steal to give herself a pathway to score in the paint, making it a one-point contest.
That possession was answered quickly with another two-pointer from Hofstra’s Thomas to make it a 42-39 game. A three-pointer from Mwai gave LIU their first lead of the contest at 46-44. Hofstra’s Ally Knights had enough and tied the game again at 46. A shot from downtown by LIU’s Claire Henson nullified Knights’ efforts, and the Sharks were leading once again 49-46.
After trading a few more buckets, with 2:15 left in the third quarter, LIU led 51-48. Hofstra’s Emma Von Essen put up the equalizer with a clutch three-pointer to end the quarter tied at 51.
The Pride took a brief five-point lead to start the fourth. However, LIU wasn’t ready to call it quits as Elohim’s 3-pointer and a fastbreak two-pointer by Austin tied the game again at 56. Thomas and Swint flexed their presence with two big shots in the paint for a 61-56 lead.
Even when the defense slipped for the Pride, Swint put up another layup to change the scoreboard to 67-64 with 31 seconds left. Two free throws made by Von Essen sealed the game with a 74-71 victory over the Sharks.
Swint excelled in the paint, going 9-for-13 from the field, scoring 19 points and adding nine rebounds and one block.
“Her paint presence is great,” Santos Atkinson said. “She worked to get those opportunities and create opportunities in the paint to have an advantage, so we can finish at the rim. Her presence is what the team needs, and she’s got to continue to stay aggressive.”
With a win on their shoulders, the Pride turns to face the Army West Point Knights with another home game at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/Hofstra Athletics
