A snowstorm outside the Mack Sports Complex couldn't freeze out the hot-shooting Jess Fuller, who registered her third straight double-double to help Hofstra defeat Rice, 68-58, Friday night in a non-conference home game at the Mack Sports Complex.

Fuller (Queens, NY) led a Pride offense that featured four double-figure scorers. Fuller scored 20 points and added a career-high 14 rebounds, helping Hofstra (5-3) forge a four-game winning streak.

Natty Fripp (Oakland, CA) complemented Fuller's low-post game, adding 14 points and eight rebounds. Sam Brigham (Simsbury, CT) poured in 11 points on 5-7 shooting and freshman Nicole Capurso (Staten Island, NY) hit two three-pointers as part of a 12-point effort.

The Pride's defense clamped down in the second half, holding the Owls to just 4-27 shooting from the field. Rice did not make a field goal in the period until Amenemope McKinney's three-pointer at the 10-minute mark, breaking a 0-13 field goal-shooting skid. Overall, Hofstra held the Owls to a 29.8 percent field goal shooting percentage.

Hofstra started the second half on a 14-4 run before Rice cut the deficit to 58-55. Fripp prevented Rice (3-5) from getting any closer on the next possession, driving to the net and getting a good bounce off the back rim for the basket while drawing the foul on Shyrelle Horne. Fripp hit the ensuing free throw, building the Pride's lead to 61-55 with 3:58 remaining.

Morgan Mayse (15 points), Tara Watts (10 points) and Amenemope McKinney (12 points) each scored in double figures for the Owls, though the Pride still improved to 3-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points.

Fuller finished one point shy of tying a career-high, while adding four blocks, a steal and two assists in 39 minutes. The 6-4 junior hauled down eight rebounds in the second half and added five total offensive rebounds as Hofstra improved to 3-0 at home.

Rice seized control early on in the opening stanza. Watts and Mayse combined for four three-pointers in the first half, each scoring in double figures as the Owls surged ahead to an 11-point first-half edge (27-16) before Hofstra initiated an 18-3 run to re-take the lead.

Fripp poured in two close-range shots while Capurso hit both of her three-pointers in the half to start the comeback. Brigham, who was 4-4 in the opening 20 minutes, capped the stretch by hitting two consecutive field goals to put the Pride ahead, 34-30, with 2:35 remaining in the half. Rice ended the run on McKinney's put-back on an offensive rebound followed by Watts' three-pointer.

But Fripp's three-pointer with 23 seconds on the clock handed the Pride a 37-35 lead heading into the locker room. Senior guard Niki Williams started in place of sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio and contributed three points, three rebounds and a game-high tying six assists in the win.  Bellocchio is out indefinitely with a hand injury. 

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE


Hofstra will next be in action Monday when it hosts St. Francis (NY) in a matinee contest. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

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