Towson, MD - Hofstra University sophomore forward Shante Evans had 27 points, on 11-13 shooting from the field, and added 12 rebounds to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball team to an 81-74 victory over Towson University on Thursday evening at the Towson Center. Both the point and rebound totals for Evans were game-highs.
Hofstra improves to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with the win, while Towson falls to 7-10 and 1-5 in conference action. Hofstra sweeps the season series from Towson and evens the all-time series at 27-27 between the two longtime rivals.
The double-double for Evans was her ninth of the season and 25th of her career.
A change in the starting lineup would spark the Pride to start the contest as junior guard Jael Pena earned the first start of her Hofstra career and paid dividends very quickly as she hit a three-pointer just 30 seconds into the contest. Hofstra would go on to lead 12-2 to start the game as junior guard Candice Bellocchio hit a pair of three-pointers during the game-opening run.
Hofstra would be in control the entire first half as they pushed the lead to as many as 17, 31-14, following a three-pointer from freshman guard Kate Loper with 6:53 left in the opening stanza.
Towson chipped away at the deficit over the final 1:24 of the first half as they scored seven of the final nine points in the half to trail 41-30 at the break.
After Towson got the deficit back into single digits just over six minutes into the second half, Hofstra used a 10-1 run to open up a 18-point margin, 62-44, after a free throw from Evans with 10:01 left in regulation.
Hofstra would cruise from that point as the Tigers weren't able to get the Pride advantage under nine points until 46 seconds were left in the contest. Hofstra was solid from the charity stripe in the final minute as they made 5-6 down the stretch to earn the victory.
Bellocchio had a season-high 17 points for Hofstra, while also adding four assists. Pena chipped in with six points, six rebounds and seven assists in her first start. Loper, who missed Hofstra's last two games, had nine points on three three-pointers.
All five starters were in double figures for Towson, led by Dovile Miliauskaite's 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Hofstra returns to action on Sunday when it continues the current three-game road trip with a game at Drexel. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
