On Sunday, Jan. 14, the Hofstra women’s basketball team put up a losing effort on the road against the Tigers of Towson University, with a final score of 92-68.
The game was characterized by a large early lead gained by the Tigers which they maintained until the second quarter when the Pride got back within striking distance. Towson would once again dominate in the third quarter, outscoring Hofstra 30-12 in the frame to build the 24-point lead that they would finish the game with.
“We just try to put our nose down defensively, but obviously it’s going to take more than one or two people,” said Hofstra head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “With 92 points, it’s hard to swallow that we had any type of good defense tonight.”
The Pride’s offense had its best showing in the second quarter, as they slowly chipped away at the lead for the first eight minutes until going on a 10-2 scoring run to close out the half. This cut their deficit, which had previously been as high as 19 points, down to just six.
The Pride’s best performance of the game came from senior guard Boogie Brozoski, who finished with 19 points in the contest, going 7-15 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. She also managed to grab an offensive rebound and earn three assists. Junior Marianne Kalin also dished out three assists, as well as two blocks and a team-leading seven rebounds.
Off the bench, junior Ana Hernandez Gil, who missed last season due to injury, put up her second-best scoring performance of the season, dropping 17 points on 60 percent shooting, and going 3-6 from the three-point line. She grabbed two steals as well, tying the team-leader – fellow junior Mikiyah Croskey – who led the team with three blocks.
“[Hernandez Gil] has always played well in this gym,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “She’s been fighting injury and trying to get back, but she did a good job for us tonight. Her and [Brozoski] both, night in and night out are trying to lead us, and we just need more consistency from other people to help us out.”
As a team, the Pride shot a decent 45 percent from the field, but were helped by their above average three-point shooting, as they went 6-12. The Tigers, however, had a number of statistical advantages, including total rebounds (44-27), assists (14-11) and turnovers (16-25).
Towson was led in scoring by Kionna Jeter with a game-high 29 points, in addition to seven steals. Two of Towson’s starters corralled double-digit rebounds in the contest, with Maia Lee and Nukiya Mayo grabbing 14 and 11, respectively.
This loss brings Hofstra’s record to 6-10 for the season. They have gone winless since starting Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play, with their league record at 0-4. They look to change that on Friday, Jan. 18, when the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens visit them at home.
