Niagara University, NY - Sophomore forward Shante Evans had 25 points and 13 rebounds, including 20 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball to a convincing 96-69 victory over Niagara on Thursday evening at the Gallagher Center.
Joining Evans with a solid outings were freshman guard Kate Loper (19 points) and freshman forward Anma Onyeuku, who picked up her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Not to be left out was junior guard Candice Bellocchio who picked up her second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 assists, while also adding in six rebounds.
With Evans, Onyeuku and Bellocchio all picking up double-doubles it marks the first time since January 9, 2005 that Hofstra has had three players pick up double-doubles. Back in 2005 it was Vanessa Gidden (21 points/14 rebounds), Lizanne Murphy (14 points/10 rebounds) and Cigi McCollin (16 points/10 rebounds) each tallying double-doubles.
The win was Hofstra's fifth straight and improves the Pride's record to 5-1 this season. It is Hofstra's longest win streak since a seven-game streak during the 2008-09 campaign. Niagara falls to 1-6 with the loss.
With 96 points in the game tonight, it marked the fourth straight game that Hofstra has reached at least 80 points. It is the first time in program history that Hofstra has reached the 80-point plateau in four straight contests. The 96 points tonight is the most Hofstra has scored in a game since scoring 97 in a win over Wagner on January 6, 1993.
Evans was virtually unstoppable in the opening twenty minutes as the West Chester, PA native picked up her third double-double of the season and the 19th of her stellar career with 20 points and 10 rebounds before the break. It was a dazzling display for Evans as she was 8-14 from the field in the first half and picked up seven of her 10 rebounds on the offensive end.
The Pride led from the opening tip as the visitors from Long Island got on the board with a jumper from junior guard Nicole Capurso just 14 seconds into the contest. Hofstra would score the first six points of the game, including Evans' first bucket at the 19:19 mark of the half. Hofstra would gradually add to its lead and extend it to as many as 17 in the first half, the first time occurring with 41 seconds left when junior guard Asia Jenkins grabbed an offensive rebound and layed it back in for a 44-27 Pride advantage.
Evans would quickly push her total to 24 points as she tallied the Pride's first two baskets of the second stanza, the last of which gave Hofstra a 50-32 lead with 18:44 left. A three-pointer from Capurso at the 17:29 mark would give the Pride its largest lead of the game to that point at 48-35 before Niagara gradually cut into the deficit and a layup from Meghan Waterman with 13:28 to play made it 64-49 Hofstra.
Hofstra would keep the Purple Eagles at bay the rest of the contest as they easily dispatched of Niagara by the score of 96-69.
Hofstra returns to action following the break for finals when they travel to Seton Hall on December 18 for a 2 p.m. contest. The Pride will look for its second win over a school from the Big East Conference when they take on the Pirates. Hofstra defeated Providence, 80-76, back on November 22.
