HOFSTRA CONTINUES TO ROLL; EARNS FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN

2/28/2010 8:54:00 PM

Hempstead, NY - Senior center Jess Fuller scored 12 points and added six blocks and four rebounds in her final regular season home game to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball team to a 53-37 victory over Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex. Senior guard Sam Brigham was also appearing in her final home regular season game and she added six points and three rebounds in the contest.

Freshman forward Shante Evans was a force once again for the Pride as she added 13 points and 11 rebounds for her Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)-leading 13th double-double this season. She also added a season-high four assists.

The win was Hofstra's fourth straight and improves the Pride's record to 18-11 and 11-6 in conference action. Northeastern falls to 12-16 and 7-10 in CAA play. Hofstra's 11 CAA wins are the most since the 2006-07 squad won 13 conference contests and the Pride has now won seven of its last eight games.

The first half was all Hofstra as the Pride jumped out to a 8-0 lead, with Fuller notching the first two baskets of the contest. The Pride's other senior, Brigham, would get on the board at the 16:20 mark to push the lead to 8-0 before the Huskies finally got on the board.

A steal and layup from junior guard Aamira Terry with just over 12 minutes left in the opening stanza would give Hofstra a 14-5 advantage before Northeastern cut the deficit to five with a 6-2 run that culminated with a jumper from Kashaia Cannon at the 8:03 mark. That would be as close as Northeastern would get in the opening stanza, though, as Hofstra scored the next four points and 11 of the final 15 points in the half to lead 27-15 at the break.

Fuller was a force defensively in the first half as she had four blocks in the first two and a half minutes of the game and ended with five in the first twenty minutes. The senior from Queens, NY also led Hofstra with eight points, while redshirt sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio added seven points, four assists and three rebounds in the first half.

Hofstra's defense only allowed Northeastern to shoot 23.1% (6-26) in the first half and also forced the Huskies into 14 turnovers.

Hofstra would hold a double digit lead for the first seven-plus minutes of the seven half until Northeastern used a 8-3 run to turn a 36-25 Pride lead into a narrow 39-33 Hofstra advantage with 9:56 left after a three-pointer from Cannon. Bellocchio would hit a pair of free throws with 7:55 to play to allow to extend the lead to 41-33.

Bellocchio would push the lead back to double digits with 5:28 to play in regulation as she drove the lane and layed it in for a 43-33 Pride lead.
That proved to be all the breathing room Hofstra would need as the Pride was never seriously challenged the rest of the way en route to the 16-point victory.

The 37 points were the fewest Hofstra had allowed since a 48-37 win over James Madison during the 2003-04 season.

Bellocchio tied Evans for game-high honors with 13 points, while also adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Northeastern was led by Brittany Wilson, who had 11 points and five rebounds.

Today marked the final regular season home game for Hofstra's two seniors (guard Sam Brigham and center Jess Fuller). Both were honored in a pregame ceremony.

Hofstra will close the regular season next Wednesday when its travels to Delaware for a 7 p.m. contest.

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