Auburn, Ala. - Auburn used a strong first-half run to build
an early cushion and Hofstra couldn't complete its comeback bid as the Pride
fell, 68-58, to the Tigers in a non-conference matchup on Sunday afternoon at
Auburn Arena.
Junior forward Anma Onyeuku scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting,
including 15 points in the second half, but Hofstra saw its losing streak
extended to seven games in dropping to 1-7.
Forward Shante Evans grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds and nine points and junior guard Annie Payton added eight points and five rebounds in Hofstra's
first-ever meeting with Auburn.
Peyton Davis led Auburn's balanced scoring attack, posting a
double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds as the SEC-member Tigers improved
to 6-2. Four Tigers scored in double
figures with Tyrese Tanner finishing with 13 points and Blanche Alverson scoring 11 points. Najat
Ouardad registered eight points.
Hofstra, which trailed by as much as 20 in the second half,
moved to within four points when Evans' layup made it 62-58 just under two
minutes remaining. But the Tigers' Hasina
Muhammad drew a foul while driving to the hoop on the next possession to make
sure the Pride would not get closer. Muhammad made one of two free throws
before Auburn's full-court press generated a turnover and a Muhammad converted with a layup as
the forward compiled 12 points total.
Onyeuku broke her previous career high of 16 points set
against Eastern Washington on Nov. 13, 2011. The Pride shrugged off a
cold-shooting first half in going 42.9 percent from the field after halftime
while also holding Auburn to 39.3 percent shooting in the period.
Hofstra played Auburn close through much of the opening half
before the Tigers went on a 13-0 run over four minutes, forcing the Pride to
play catch-up the rest of the way.
The Pride got as close as within four points before Auburn's
four-minute hot shooting stretch yielded a 17-point edge. The Tigers made six field goals
in that span capped by Alverson's left-wing three-pointer for a 35-18 advantage
with five minutes to go in the opening half.
The Tigers would lead by as much as 20 on Davis' bank shot
almost seven minutes into the second half. Hofstra got within 12 on sophomore
guard Andreana Thomas' crisp pass to Evans in the paint for the layup, making
it a 52-40 game with 10:38 left in the second half. Thomas had six assists and eight points.
Onyeuku added a three-point play and later converted a
fast-break layup to make it 54-47.
Ouardad responded with a jump shot to stem the momentum. Davis then converted a
layup off Alverson's pass for an 11-point lead with six minutes left.
Auburn built a 39-23 halftime lead in holding Hofstra to
25.8 percent shooting from the floor. Green and Onyeuku put Hofstra within
striking distance early as both forwards scored six points in the opening 20
minutes. But Payton showed a good touch from close range, scoring eight points
and hauling in seven rebounds before the break while the Tigers connected on
four three-pointers.
The game marked a homecoming for Hofstra assistant coach
Bill Ferrara, who served as a video coordinator at Auburn before moving on to
be an assistant coach at Central Michigan for three years.
Hofstra will have a nearly two-week break before its next
game as the Pride will host the New York Life Holiday Invitational from Dec.
21-23. Hofstra will oppose Ole Miss on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. before
concluding the tournament on Dec. 23 against Northwestern with a 1 p.m. game at the Mack Sports Complex. For ticket
information, fans can call 516-HOF-TIXX.
