WILMINGTON, NC – The Hofstra women’s basketball team fell to the UNC-Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks on Sunday, March 1, by a score of 56-43.

The Pride drop to 3-25 on the season, suffering their 18th straight loss and are still winless in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.

It was senior night for the Seahawks as their starting lineup was made up of five guards – all of whom were seniors.

GiGi Smith got the first field goal of the game from a three-point range for the Seahawks. An early 8-2 start for UNCW caused Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson to call timeout a little over three minutes into the game. This slowed down the Seahawks as they only scored three points and turned the ball over three times. The Pride failed to capitalize on the Seahawks’ struggles, however, as they also piled up their fair share of turnovers and could not convert a basket.

Hofstra started the second half strong, with Jaylen Hines and JaKayla Brown both knocking down shots. Hines finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Pride managed to tie the game at 14 after going on an 8-2 run. After a media timeout, with 6:36 remaining, both teams went on a scoring drought for over three minutes. The drought ended with a basket from Hines to give the Pride a 16-14 lead. A four-point play from UNCW’s Moriah Crisp gave the lead back to the Seahawks 20 seconds later, only for Sorelle Ineza to make a three-point play of her own to give the lead back to the Pride. Hofstra led 21-18 at the half.

UNCW came out swinging in the third quarter, going on a quick 7-0 run in the first 1:18 of play. The Pride turned the ball over five times in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Seahawks shot the ball well, converting 50% of their field goals and scoring 19 points. The Pride only shot 20% from the field in the third and scored nine points.

The fourth quarter gave Hofstra an opportunity to come back. Baskets by Hines, Marianne Kalin and Ana Hernandez Gil cut the Seahawks’ lead to 42-38 by the media timeout at 5:30. Smith scored five quick points out of the timeout. She finished with 23 points, three assists and two rebounds. The score was 49-40 with under three minutes to go. Ineza banked in a clutch layup and was fouled. The converted free throw cut the lead to six, but that was not enough as the Seahawks won their final home game of the regular season and improved to 9-18 on the season (6-10 in CAA play).

The Pride return home this week and are back in action on Saturday, March 7, to take on the Northeastern University Huskies at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics