The Hofstra University women’s basketball team lost its second game in a row in a 61-55 defeat to Bucknell University. The Pride now falls to 1-3 and sits 11th in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings.
“First half, I didn’t think we came out with the fire and intensity that we needed,” said Hofstra head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “Second half, I think we got after it defensively but just the amount of three’s that we gave up and some of those crucial offensive rebounds changed the game for us.”
Hofstra’s first half offense struggled again, scoring only 22 points against Bucknell. The Pride are averaging just 25 points in the first half in losses this season compared to 41 in their sole win this season against Yale University.
Along with the struggles on offense, the Pride has struggled to limit teams in the first half, allowing 36.7 points in losses. Teams have shot well from beyond the arc against the Pride this season, with Bucknell nailing five threes in the first half.
“We talked about it in the beginning of the game, there was slight concern with that zone and giving up too many threes,” Santos said. “We’re not going to be able to play zone versus a great team and not give up any three’s; the problem was the amount of threes we gave up in the first half.”
The Pride’s rebounding took another step forward on Saturday, even with most of their rebounding coming in the second half. Hofstra out-rebounded Bucknell 37-30 and had nine offensive boards to Bucknell’s five.
Alarice Gooden continued her scorching hot start, scoring a team high 16 points on 5-10 from the field, 2-4 from three and 4-4 from the free throw line. She is now averaging career highs in every major statistic: doubling her minutes and rebounds per game, tripling her points and assists per game, shooting career high in field goal percentage and three-point percentage.
“[Gooden] is a good player, she’s playing with a lot of confidence, but we just have to keep her on the floor,” Santos said. “These past few games she’s gotten herself into foul trouble early in the first half.”
Due to the injuries the team has suffered so far, senior center Deivejon Harris saw her most minutes so far this season. She finished with six points and a season high eight rebounds, which led the team.
While Hofstra has suffered several injuries this season, the Pride are starting to get healthy. Sandra Magolico and Sana’a Garrett have returned along with Chloe Sterling working her way back. The team hopes to be back on track before conference play.
“This team is talented,” Santos said. “When we look at this team a month from now, it’s going to look totally different.”
The Pride will take on ninth ranked and undefeated Maryland University on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. This will be Hofstra and Maryland’s first ever matchup between the two.
