FULLER POWERS PRIDE PAST PANTHERS

1/10/2010 8:00:00 PM

Hempstead, NY - Senior center Jess Fuller had game-highs of 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball team to a 58-49 victory over Georgia State on Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex. The win ended a four-game losing skid for the Pride, and improved Hofstra's home record to 6-1 this season.

Hofstra moves its record to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while Georgia State falls to 10-4 and 1-2 in conference action.

The Pride held Georgia State's Danyiell McKeller to just eight points on 4-19 shooting in the game. McKeller came into the game averaging 20.2 points per game, which ranked fourth in the CAA.

A low scoring first half would see Hofstra take a 20-19 lead into the break as the Pride rebounded from a 5-0 deficit early on to lead 20-10 with 2:50 left in the half following a pair of free throws from Fuller.

A layup from redshirt sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio got Hofstra on the board at the 18:25 mark and the Pride would utilize a 14-2 run to lead 14-7 with 7:38 left in the opening stanza after a basket from sophomore forward Marie Malone.

With the Pride holding a ten-point advantage (20-10) with 2:50 to play in the half, Georgia State rallied to close the gap to one as they scored the final nine points of the half. The run began with a three-pointer from the Panthers' Brittany Graham and culminated with a layup from Crystal Johnson with three seconds to play before intermission.

The Georgia State run would reach 13-0 as the Panthers scored the first four points of the second half to lead 23-20 following a jumper from McKeller 1:02 into the half. Georgia State would take its largest lead of the half at four on two occasions, the last time at 28-24 on two free throws from Angelique Burtts before Hofstra began to mount its comeback.

Senior guard Sam Brigham would single-handedly put Hofstra back in front in the game as the senior guard hit a jumper to make the score 28-26, then followed up with a pair of free throws to knot the score and put Hofstra in front for good at 30-28 with a layup at the 16:49 mark. In all Hofstra would make it a 9-0 scoring run as the Pride took a 33-28 lead after a bucket from freshman forward Shante Evans with 14:22 remaining in regulation.

The lead for the Pride would balloon to 14 later in the half as Hofstra used a 9-2 run to turn a 39-32 advantage into a 48-34 lead with 6:10 left following a layup from junior guard Aamira Terry. Terry, who earned her first start of the season this afternoon, finished the contest with six points, six rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes of action.

Georgia State would only get as close seven the rest of the way as Hofstra held on for the nine-point victory.

Brigham added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists in the game, while Bellocchio chipped in with 14 points.

Burtts led the Panthers with 11 points, and Johnson added seven points, four assists and three rebounds.

Hofstra is back in action on Thursday when they host preseason CAA favorite Drexel at 7 p.m. in the Mack Sports Complex.

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