Hempstead, NY - Kquanise Byrd hit a driving layup with three seconds remaining to lift Old Dominion over Hofstra, 79-77, on Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.
Today's game marked Hofstra's annual "Pink Zone" game and was also Girl Scout Day. A crowd of 1,602 was in attendance for the game and nearly $1,000 was raised to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
The highly-entertaining game featured 13 tie scores and 11 lead changes with freshman guard Kate Loper knotting the score for the final time at 77 with 32 seconds left after hitting one of two from the free throw line.
Hofstra, which was led by 19 points from junior guard Nicole Capurso, falls to 15-11 overall and 7-8 in league play with the loss. Old Dominion improves to 18-8 and 12-3 in conference action with the victory. Shadasia Green led four Lady Monarchs in double figures with 17 points.
Hofstra also got 18 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore forward Shante Evans. With her 18 points in the game, Evans now has 917 career points. That career total is the most points scored by a Hofstra Women's Basketball player through the first two years of their career (since 1978). Dia LaBella previously held the mark as she tallied 909 points in the first two years of her career (1978-80). LaBella is the all-time leading scorer in program history with 1,840 career points. The double-double was the 13th of the season for Evans and the 29th of her career.
An entertaining first half would see the visitors take a one-point lead into the break as Loper beat the first half buzzer with a layup to close the Pride to within 39-38.
Old Dominion led the majority of the first stanza, taking its largest lead of 10 (26-16) following a three-pointer from Alena Vornonina with 10:09 left before intermission.
Hofstra quickly brought the deficit down to three points, 26-23, as they used a 7-0 scoring run that culminated with a layup from Capurso at the 9:04 mark of the first half. Capurso was Hofstra's main offensive weapon in the opening twenty minutes as she poured in 17 first half points, including three three-pointers.
The Lady Monarchs did push their advantage back up eight in the last few minutes of the half, but Hofstra gradually chipped away and a late three-pointer from Capurso and Loper's basket closed the gap to one.
A jumper from Loper opened the scoring in the second half and allowed Hofstra to regain the lead just over 30 seconds into the stanza.
With Hofstra leading 49-48 after a free throw from Evans at the 13:51 mark, Old Dominion used a 9-2 run to open a 57-51 advantage after a three-pointer from Jackie Cook with 10:44 showing on the clock.
The Lady Monarchs would push their lead to eight points, 62-54, at the 9:06 mark before Hofstra rallied and utilized a 10-2 run to knot the score at 64 courtesy of a three-pointer from freshman guard Annie Payton with 7:15 remaining in the second half.
Niether team would take a lead larger than three points over the game's final seven minutes with Hofstra taking a narrow 74-71 advantage after a three-pointer from Loper at the 3:16 mark.
A jumper from Vornonina with 1:28 left allowed Old Dominion to take a 77-74 lead, but Evans quickly answered 15 seconds later with a basket to cut the deficit to one, setting up the exciting finish.
Sophomore forward Candace Bond pulled down a game and career-high 11 rebounds for Hofstra, while Loper finished with 17 points. Junior guard Candice Bellocchio added six points and six assists for the Pride.
Cook had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Monarchs, while Vornonina chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds. Byrd, who hit the game-winner, added nine points and a game-high eight assists.
Hofstra will host a pair of games this week as George Mason visits on Thursday for Hofstra's annual "Family Fun Day" contest, presented by Herald Community Newspapers, at 2 p.m., while James Madison comes to the Mack Sports Complex for a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday. The James Madison game will mark the end of the Pride's home regular season slate and Hofstra will honor its seniors prior to the game against the Dukes.
