The Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team survived a late rally by the Northeastern University Huskies by a final score of 63-60 on Senior Day, Tuesday, March 2, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
After suffering a 68-39 loss to the Huskies two nights earlier, the Pride rebounded to end the regular season with a win.
“I am extremely proud of how hard this team has played,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “I’m grateful that we reap the rewards of that hard play today.”
Following two JaKayla Brown free throws with 3:40 remaining in the game, Hofstra held a nine-point lead, the largest lead of the day.
A quick 5-0 run by a Kendall Currence second-chance jumper, followed by a free throw on the following possession and capped off with an Izzy Larsen layup, brought the Huskies within four with just over two minutes remaining.
Brown went back to the line for Hofstra, sinking one shot and pushing the lead back to five. Following a missed three-pointer by Stella Clark, Jahsyni Knight got a layup, giving the Pride a 58-51 lead with 1:05 remaining.
Northeastern struck back with another Currence jumper, getting back within five. After two successful Knight free throws for Hofstra, Mide Oriyomi drilled a three-pointer, making it 60-56 with 40 seconds remaining.
After timeouts by both teams, Hofstra failed to convert free throws, giving the ball back to the Huskies. With 32 seconds remaining, Currence drove to the lane but had her shot blocked by Jaylen Hines. Hofstra went back to the free throw line but again failed to sink any shots.
Northeastern drove back down the court giving the ball to Currence again but was blocked a second-straight possession, this time by Jaala Henry. The Huskies rebounded the block and Oriyomi converted a layup, making it a two-point game with 19 seconds left.
Following the inbounds, a foul sent Brown back to the line where she converted both free throws, giving the Pride a four-point lead. Following missed shots on both sides, Henry hit another free throw, giving the Pride a 63-58 lead with five seconds remaining.
Still determined, Mossi Staples drove down the court and was fouled sending her to the line. Staples converted both free throws making it a two-point game again. The Pride turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, giving the Huskies a chance to send it to overtime with a second remaining in the game.
The pass went out to Currence where she launched a three-pointer. But, the shot was unsuccessful and the Pride closed the game with a win.
“We had each other’s backs. Everything wasn’t perfect. There weren’t many possessions that were perfect and there never are,” Santos Atkinson said. “We covered for each other and we have great second effort and great energy and that’s what won us the game.”
Brown led the Pride in scoring with 17 while Hines ended the night with 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Knight also scored 16 for Hofstra and recorded six rebounds.
Currence led all scorers with 18 points for Northeastern. No other Huskies player reached double-digit points.
The Huskies committed 16 turnovers in the game, leading to 18 points for the Pride.
Hofstra ends the season at 7-11 overall and 5-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Huskies fall to 7-12 (6-10 CAA).
After being picked to finish last in the conference, Hofstra heads into the CAA Tournament as the probable No. 5 seed.
“We knew the potential of this team at the start. We knew what we had, the pieces and the tools that we had,” Santos Atkinson said. “It was the growth we needed to see and it was the togetherness of our play we had to see and having the entire team all in on board to our goals that we wanted to see for this season.”
The Pride will play on March 11, matchups will be determined at a future date.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
