Hempstead, NY - Delaware freshman Elena Delle Donne scored a game-high 35 points while adding seven rebounds as Hofstra dropped a 71-65 decision to the Blue Hens in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.
Four Hofstra players scored in double figures, though the Pride still fell to 10-9 and 3-4 in conference play.
Senior center Jess Fuller (Queens, NY) led Hofstra with 17 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Fuller now has 173 career blocks and sits two away from tying for the most in program history (Vanessa Gidden - 175).
Delaware generated 14 steals in improving to 12-6 and 4-3. Delle Donne finished 12-21 from the field and also added five steals and three assists.
Freshman forward Shante Evans scored 16 points on 7-9 shooting, adding nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio (Staten Island, NY) also registered 10 assists as the Pride lost for just the third time in 10 home games this season in seeing its modest two-game winning streak stopped. It was Bellocchio's second game this season with double figure assists as she set the school record earlier this season with 14 at St. Francis (NY) on November 18.
Sophomore guard Nicole Capurso (Staten Island, NY) scored all 12 of her points in the second half and sophomore forward Marie Malone (Virginia Beach, VA) tied a career-high with 11 points off the bench.
Evans (West Chester, PA) and Delle Donne came into Sunday ranked one and two in the CAA in rebounding (Evans - 1, Delle Donne - 2) while leading their teams in scoring. The duo keyed their respective teams' offense, each finishing just shy of double-doubles.
Hofstra fell behind as much as 16 before pulling within 39-37 with 12:35 left on Fuller's driving layup. But Delle Donne responded with back-to-back three-pointers to swing momentum back to Delaware.
Capurso connected on both of her three-pointers in the second half before the Blue Hens were able to pull away for its second victory in the series' last five meetings. The teams will meet again in the regular season finale at Delaware March 3.
Delle Donne, a Wooden Award candidate for Player of the Year, entered the contest ranked fourth nationally in scoring, averaging 25.3 points. The 6-5 Delaware native found her shot early, scoring 16 first-half points on 6-12 shooting.
The Blue Hens surged to a 12-0 run midway through the first half and followed up with a separate 7-0 run at the 15-minute mark in building a 35-25 halftime lead.
Evans ensured Hofstra stayed within closing distance heading into the break, hitting all four of her field goal attempts while scoring 10 points and adding four rebounds before intermission.
After playing five of six games at home, the Pride starts a three-game road trip Thursday at James Madison. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
