PITTSBURGH, P.A. – On Sunday, Nov. 29, the Hofstra University women’s basketball team fell to the University of Pittsburgh Panthers by a score of 71-58 at the Petersen Events Center.

Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson was unable to get the Pride out in front of the Panthers, the team for which she served as an associate head coach in the 2018-19 season.

The Pride trailed by as many as 21 points in the game, but the team cut the Panthers’ edge to six in the fourth quarter. Hofstra opened the quarter down by 14, but a jumper from junior forward Rosi Nicholson was followed by three layups from redshirt-junior forward Jaylen Hines to give the team its smallest deficit since the opening minutes. Pittsburgh’s Jayla Everett sank a three to halt the Pride’s momentum, and the Panthers outscored the Pride 9-5 in the closing five minutes.

The Panthers took the lead early in the contest, as they went on a 9-2 run in the opening 2:03 of the game fueled by two three-pointers by Everett. The Panthers would end the first quarter with a 23-10 lead, and their margin expanded to 18 points by halftime.

The Pride was led by Nicholson, a transfer student from Santa Fe Community College, in just her second game with the team. Nicholson scored 17 points and shot 3-8 from beyond the arc. Hines added 14 points and two steals. The Pride held a game-long edge in steals, as junior guard Jahsyni Knight picked four pockets to go with her 11 points and nine rebounds, and redshirt-junior forward Jaala Henry garnered four steals of her own.

The Panthers’ edge in three pointers proved crucial, as they shot nearly 37% from the three-point line compared to a 21% showing from Hofstra. Pittsburgh’s Everett led both teams in scoring, finishing with 23 points while shooting 5-12 from the field and going 10-10 from the free throw line. Dayshanette Harris and Amber Brown brought down eight rebounds apiece, helping the Panthers to a 42-40 margin on the boards. Rita Igbokwe patrolled the paint for Pittsburgh, blocking three shots in her 14 minutes on the floor.

The Pride holds a 1-1 record for the season following the loss and will look to return to a winning percentage on Sunday, Dec. 6 when they host Fairfield University at 2 p.m.

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics