Hempstead, NY - Sophomore forward Shante Evans had 25 points and 14 rebounds, freshman guard Kate Loper added 18 points and junior guard Nicole Capurso chipped in with 13 points and eight assists to lead the Hofstra Women's Basketball team to an 81-68 victory over Delaware on Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

A much smaller Pride squad out-rebounded the Blue Hens, 40-30, in the contest as Delaware had five players see action today that were at least six feet tall, while Hofstra had two players six feet or taller play in the contest.  Hofstra also nailed 10 three-pointers in the game, its second-highest total of the season (11 vs. Albany).

The win improves Hofstra's record to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while Delaware falls to 11-9 and 4-5 in conference action.

The game marked the return of Delaware All-American Elena Delle Donne, who missed the last 11 games.  Delle Donne played 34 minutes in her return and scored a game-high 28 points, including a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.  She also added five rebounds and three assists.

An old-fashioned three-point play from Delle Donne at the 10:09 mark of the first half would give the Blue Hens an early 19-17 advantage before Hofstra used an 8-2 run to lead 25-21 with 6:19 to play courtesy of a basket from Evans. 

After two more free throws from Delle Donne at the 4:29 mark made the score 29-27 in favor of the Pride, Hofstra outscored Delaware, 14-1, over the next 2:29.  That pushed Hofstra's margin to 43-28 after a three-pointer from Capurso, before the Blue Hens scored the final basket of the half to cut the deficit to 13 at the break. 

It was a matchup of two of the CAA's top talents in the contest and through 20 minutes neither disappointed.  Evans led Hofstra with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the opening half, while Delle Donne poured in 16 points in the first half in her return to the lineup (last played on December 19 vs. Penn State).

Hofstra led 52-39 early on in the second stanza before four straight points from Delle Donne closed the gap to 52-43 with 14:49 to play.  That would be as close as Delaware would get though, as Hofstra put together a 9-2 run to lead 61-45 with 12:52 left on the clock after a layup from junior guard Candice Bellocchio.

The Pride would hold at least an 11-point the remainder of the contest as they went on to salvage the season series with the Blue Hens.

Evans shot 11-14 from the field and grabbed 10 of her rebounds on the defensive end for Hofstra, which got 10 points and six rebounds from sophomore forward Candace Bond.  Bellocchio added 12 points, five assists and four steals for the Pride.  The double-double was the tenth of the season for Evans and the 26th of her career.

Vanessa Kabongo had 12 points for Delaware and Lauren Carra added 11 points and seven assists. 

Hofstra returns to action on Thursday when it hosts William & Mary at 7 p.m.