Junior center Jess Fuller (Queens, NY) tied a career-high with 19 points and freshman forward Joelle Connelly (Arcade, NY) recorded her second double-double as the Hofstra Women's Basketball team cruised to an 81-61 victory over Manhattan College Tuesday night in the home opener at the Mack Sports Complex.
Freshman guard Nicole Capurso (Staten Island, NY-pictured) contributed 17 points off the bench, giving the Pride three double-figure scorers. Hofstra shot 55.9 percent from the floor, improving to 1-2 with the win in the non-conference matchup.
Alyssa Herrington, Kelly Regan and Michelle Pacheco notched double figures in scoring for the Lady Jaspers, though Manhattan dropped to 1-4.
Connelly continued a torrid start to her NCAA career, scoring 15 points while adding 12 rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench. The first-year forward has two double-double in her first three collegiate games and fell just one rebound short of making it 3-3 in a loss to Boston College Thursday. Connelly also added a game-high seven assists in the contest this evening, leading a Pride offensive attack that saw Hofstra dish out 27 assists compared to the Lady Jaspers' 11.
Fuller tied a personal best in points, which she set against Long Island on Nov. 28, 2007. The junior center established a rhythm in the low-post, shooting 9-10 from the field in just 18 minutes.
Niki Williams (Pittsburgh, PA), who was sidelined the first two games because of injury, tallied two points in 11 minutes off the bench in her 2008 debut. The Pride's reserves out-scored its Manhattan counterparts, 36-25.
The Pride surged to an early insurmountable lead, building a 25-point advantage with four minutes remaining in the first half to take the suspense out of the contest early. Capurso's three pointer from the right elbow capped a 12-1 run, opening a 37-12 edge over the Jaspers. Bellocchio drilled a three-pointer from nearly the identical spot on the previous possession.
Defensively, Hofstra stymied the Jaspers' attack and controlled the glass. The Pride held Manhattan to just 20 percent shooting from the field in the opening 20 minutes, forcing the visitors to go 6-20 on field goal attempts.
Hofstra will next be in action on the international scene when it travels to the Bahamas to play in the Junkanoo Jam. The Pride will open up play Friday against Arizona State at 2:45 p.m. and will square off against either Florida or Southern Illinois Saturday. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for either 12:30 or 2:45 p.m.
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