After alternating wins and losses over the past nine games, the Hofstra Women's Basketball team will have a stern test on Sunday when they host the University of Delaware at 2 p.m. and attempt to string together consecutive victories for the first time since mid-December.
The Pride enters the match-up against the Blue Hens with a overall record of 8-7 and a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) mark of 3-3 following Thursday's thrilling 55-54 win over James Madison at Hofstra Arena. The Pride led nearly the entire second half against the Dukes, and took its largest lead of the game at 49-37 on a three-pointer from freshman guard Jenna McSpadden (Austin, TX) with 7:03 left in the game. After an exchange of baskets made the score 51-39, James Madison went on a 12-0 run to tie the score at 51-51 with 2:38 left, then took its first lead of the second half at 54-53 on a three-pointer by Mary Beth Culbertson with 1:14 to play. Senior guard Charlotte Baldrey-Chourio (Surrey, England) then calmly sank a pair of foul shots with 21 seconds left to give Hofstra the narrow one-point victory. Hofstra played without leading scorer, sophomore guard Cigi McCollin (Long Island City, NY), who did not dress due to an injury.
Hofstra has been led this season by McCollin, who leads the Pride and the conference in scoring (16.7 ppg), and leads Hofstra in steals (2.3 spg). Hofstra has gotten strong contributions from a pair of other sophomores this season in center Vanessa Gidden (Stamford, CT) and forward Lizanne Murphy (Beaconfield, Quebec, Canada). Gidden, who posted a game-high 21 points to go along with her game-high tying 11 rebounds, is second on the Pride in scoring with an average of 14.4 points and ranks second on the team with 8.4 rebounds per game. Leading the conference with eight double-double and currently one of only 20 players nationally averaging a double-double, Murphy is third on the squad in scoring at 11.9, while pulling down an average of 10.5 rebounds per contest. Murphy tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win over James Madison last night.
Delaware, which has won nine straight over the Pride, brings a 13-2 overall mark and a spotless 6-0 conference record into the game. The Blue Hens have won 11 straight games dating back to early December, and ended Old Dominion's 122-game home court conference win streak with a 73-70 win over the Lady Monarchs back on January 9. Hofstra's last win in the series with UD came on January 9, 2000 in the Pride's first-ever game at Hofstra Arena (72-68).
Preseason CAA Player of the Year Tiara Malcom has paced the Blue Hen attack to the tune of 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, both team-highs. In addition, she also leads the team in blocks (16) and minutes played (32.8). Delaware has two other players averaging double figures as Tyresa Smith and Tiffany Young are scoring 11.9 and 10.5 points, respectively.
For complete game notes for the Hofstra/Delaware tilt, visit:
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/22200/pdf/sports_wbb_notes012305.pdf
Following the game against Delaware, Hofstra will host Drexel University on January 27 at 7 p.m.
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