Hempstead, NY - Sophomore forward Shante Evans had 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, but the visiting UNC Wilmington Seahawks got a jumper from Martha White in the final minute to break a 66-all tie and catapult the Seahawks to a 70-66 victory over Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.
Evans hit a free throw with 1:16 left to knot the score at 66 before White hit the game-winning jumper with 55 seconds left. White would add a free throw with 16 seconds left and Kristen Hanzer added another with four seconds left to account for the final score. After the White basket, Hofstra had four chances to tie or take the lead but the Pride was unsuccessful.
The loss drops Hofstra's record to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. UNC Wilmington, which was led by Hanzer's 24 points and 10 rebounds, improves to 12-4 and 4-1 in conference action with the victory. The loss also ended Hofstra's five-game home court win streak.
UNC Wilmington led the majority of the first half, taking as much as a nine-point lead following a basket from Hanzer with 13:01 left that made the score 16-7. Hofstra gradually chipped away at the deficit and a three-pointer from junior guard Nicole Capurso with 43 seconds remaining in the opening stanza cut the Seahawk lead to four points, 37-33, heading into the break.
Two free throws from Hanzer followed by a layup from Jessica Freeman would push the visitors lead back to eight points, 41-33, just 39 seconds into the second stanza. Hofstra would take over the game at that point, as the Pride used a 17-0 scoring run to earn a 50-41 advantage with 15:32 left in regulation. Sophomore forward Candace Bond was a huge spark during the run as she had eight of the first 10 points during the run to fuel the rally.
The nine-point lead was short-lived, though, as UNC Wilmington immediately answered with 15-0 scoring run of their own to go back in front 56-50 following a three-pointer from Freeman with 11 minutes left.
Hofstra eventually retook the lead at 57-56 courtesy of a layup from junior guard Jael Pena with 6:26 on the clock before extending the lead to five, 63-58, with 5:13 left after a three-pointer from Capurso. The Pride would lead until a Hanzer basket with 1:50 to play put the Seahawks in front and UNC Wilmington would not trail again en route to the narrow victory.
Payton finished with 13 points for the Pride, while Capurso added 11 points and junior guard Candice Bellocchio chipped in with 10 points and five assists. Bond had eight points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Pride as well. The double-double was the eighth of the season for Evans and the 24th of her career.
White was second on the Seahawks with 16 points and tied Hanzer for team-high honors with 10 rebounds. Brittany Blackwell added eight points and nine rebounds.
Hofstra returns to the court on Thursday when it travels to Towson for a 7 p.m. contest.
