WBB: Hofstra Cruises To First Victory Of Season

11/16/2010 2:52:00 AM

Hempstead, NY - Sophomore forward Shante Evans had 17 points and seven rebounds, while freshman guard Kate Loper added 16 points and five rebounds to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball team to a convincing 78-55 victory over Saint Peter's on Monday evening.

The win was the first of the year for Hofstra, which evens its record at 1-1 this season. The Peahens fall to 0-2 with the loss.

Junior guard Nicole Capurso was the third member of the Pride in double figures as she added 10 points, three assists and three rebounds.

Hofstra would take an 11-point lead into the break as the Pride led 42-31 at halftime behind 10 first half points from Evans. Despite not hitting a three-point field goal in the opening 20 minutes, Hofstra was a stellar 50% (16-32) from the field as Evans led the way with a 4-5 shooting performance in the opening stanza.

The Peahens took an early 5-2 lead as Charlene Riddick drained a three-pointer at the 18:10 mark to give the visitors the narrow three-point advantage. Back-to-back baskets from Evans would put Hofstra in front and in total the Pride would put together a 14-4 run to earn a 16-9 lead at the 11:17 mark following a free throw from Evans.

Loper, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Week earlier in the day, would allow Hofstra to take its first double digit lead of the contest (31-20) as she scored off a steal and assist from senior guard Aamira Terry with 4:58 left in the first half.

Saint Peter's cut the deficit to five on a pair of occasions later in the half before Hofstra rebounded and scored the final four points of the half to lead by 11 at the intermission.

Hofstra would put together a 15-4 run spanning the two halves to open a commanding 53-35 lead at the under 12 media timeout. The Pride's outside shooting would begin to flourish during the run as Capurso hit a three at the 18:33 mark of the second half and Loper drained one of her own with 12:53 left to push the lead to 18 (53-35).

The Pride were never seriously challenged from there as they cruised to their first victory of the 2010-11 campaign.

Hofstra had a commanding 55-29 rebounding edge in the contest as Evans led the way with seven but three other players had six rebounds. Junior center Marie Malone and freshman forward Anma Onyeuku both nearly reached double digits as they each chipped in with nine points.

Junior guard Candice Bellocchio finished with six points, six assists and four rebounds.

Saint Peter's was led by Riddick's 17 points and eight rebounds. Jessica Coles added 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Hofstra returns to action on Thursday when they travel east for a 7 p.m. tip at Stony Brook.

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