WEST POINT, N.Y. – In the much-anticipated return of college basketball amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team defeated the Army Black Knights 81-78 in a back and forth affair that went up until the very end. 

“I am really proud of this team,” said head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “With all of the adversity we faced to come out here to not only play the game, but to get the win makes me really excited to keep this season going with the team.”

The Pride was up 77-76, but with seven seconds remaining, Alisa Fallon laid one in for the Black Knights to get ahead 78-77. Jahsyni Knight capped off her stellar performance by finding Pride forward Jaylen Hines under the basket on the inbounds pass of what would be the game-winning bucket with 5.8 seconds remaining, lifting the Pride up 79-78. Following an Army turnover, the only thing the Black Knights could do was foul, giving Hofstra two more free throws and an 81-78 victory, their sixth-straight season opening win. 

“We worked on some situational things leading up to the game and that last play when Jaylen scored the game winning layup was one of them,” Santos Atkinson said. “That was something they felt comfortable with and I am really proud it was something they were able to finish in that situation to give us the win.”

The 81 points scored by the Pride is the most points they have scored in a single game since February of the 2017-2018 season, when the Pride scored 83 against Townson. Five players reached double figures in scoring, one of which was Knight, a junior guard for the Pride who transferred from the University of Pittsburgh. In her first game with the Pride she totaled 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes played.

“It was great to see them share the ball, we really have been focusing on how to play well together on the offensive end of the floor.” Santos Atkinson said. “I think their ability to come out and play on the court with the level of confidence that they did really helps to free up our shooters and let them know they can let it fly and there will be someone there to get the rebound if they miss.”

Junior JaKayla Brown tied her career-high in points with 17,shooting 7-of-12 from the field while recording three steals and three rebounds. Along with Knight, junior Jaala Henry who also came from Pitt, put up 15 points with a team leading nine rebounds. Another key aspect of the game was turnovers, something the Pride struggled with last season, averaging 20.2 turnovers per game. Against the Black Knights, the Pride had only eight turnovers compared to Army’s 22.

“Over this off-season we talked about competing from start to finish. The growth from last year to this year that I have seen already is the ability to compete from the first tip until the final buzzer,” Santos Atkinson said. “To see them do that for all four quarters really made me proud of their effort and energy.”

The Pride will look to build on their momentum as they face off against the University of Pittsburgh for an anticipated return. The Pride has three members who were a part of that team just two years ago, with Santos Atkinson coaching there in 2018 and looking to come out on top against her former team. Tip-off at the Petersen Events Center is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics