Sacramento, California- The Hofstra Pride women’s basketball team registered their largest point output of the season Friday in California, but it was not enough as they dropped one to Sacramento State, 97-85.
It was the first time Hofstra (3-2) scored over 80 points in a game since March 19, when the Pride scored 82 against Villanova in the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
“We needed to manage this game better,” said head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “We tried to go toe-to-toe with them and we got caught short. We didn’t handle the momentum shifts defensively but it’s a learning process.”
Ashunae Durant compiled her 20th career double-double, third this season en route to a career-high 23 points and tied for a career-high 17 rebounds. Eight other Hofstra players registered at least two points and one rebound. Three finished with double-figures in points.
Sacramento State caught Hofstra flat-footed to open up the game. Before the Pride could convert one shot, they trailed 7-0. Hofstra battled back to tie the contest but fell back into a rut before the first quarter ended – surrendering 14 consecutive points.
Ashlyn Crenshaw scored seven of her 18 points in the opening frame but Maranne Johnson led the Hornets with 22 total points.
After the 14-0 run, the Pride responded well with eight straight points, headlined by a three-pointer from Krystal Luciano. The senior guard finished with 10 points and a career-high 11 assists.
A total of 42 points were scored in the first quarter – the highest combined point total of the season for either team. It was nothing out of the ordinary for a high-powered Sacramento team that averaged 96 total points in their previous two home games.
“We needed to get consecutive stops in a row,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “They would do enough but we’d lose key (rebounds to Sacramento State).”
The Pride made defensive stands but could not capitalize on the other side of the court. After a cold shooting spell, Hofstra charged back to take the lead early in the second quarter. The burst of energy came from one of their freshmen contributors – Sandra Karsten – who finished the game with eight points.
Both teams would go back-and-forth putting up a shooting clinic. Hofstra grabbed a brief lead after Durant connected on two free throws late in the second quarter but a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Tiara Scott gave the Hornets a 50-48 lead at the intermission.
“We’ve got to challenge each other a lot better,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “We have to go back, take this, and learn from it.”
Things unraveled for the Pride in the third quarter. They were outscored 26-12 and despite both teams having identical rebound figures, Sacramento State had 29 points off second chance opportunities and converted when it mattered most.
“The key buckets and rebounds don’t show on the stat sheet. They are a little misleading,” said Kilburn-Steveskey. “At times, we needed to get that stop or that rebound, we didn’t.”
In the final quarter, Sacramento State continued their reliable shooting from three-point range. In total, the Hornets knocked down 16 trey-balls that proved too much for the Pride to overcome.
Hofstra clawed back with an 8-0 run late in the game but Tiara Scott, Raegen Rohn and Emily Easom slammed the door on the Pride’s chances. The three Hornets combined for 35 points off the bench.
“Learning from our failures is learning about where we are and where we want to be,” said Kilburn-Steveskey.
The Pride next plays U.C. Davis on Sunday to continue their West Coast road trip.
