Fairfax, Va. - Hofstra senior forward Shante Evans set the
program's all-time scoring record while pouring in 12 points and seven rebounds
to lift the Pride to a 67-53 victory over George Mason in a Colonial Athletic
Association matchup on Sunday afternoon at the Patriot Center.
Freshman Asia Jackson added 12 points off the bench and sophomore
guard Andreana Thomas scored 11 of her 18 points in the second half. Junior
forward Anma Onyeuku notched 10 points and three rebounds to give Hofstra four
players in double figures.
Hofstra pulled back to .500 overall, improving to 7-7 while
moving to 3-0 in conference play in extending its winning streak to six. George
Mason dropped to 5-9 and 0-3 in falling for the fourth consecutive time.
Evans' basket on the low left block with11:12 left in the
first half moved her past Dia LaBella for Hofstra's record in career points.
Evans, who became the program's all-time rebounding leader against Marist on
Nov. 28, broke another cherished program record on the road. LaBella scored
1,840 career points in a career that spanned 1978-82. Evans now has 1,849
points.
Evans was 6-for-6 from the field, marking the first time a
Hofstra was player shot 100 percent (minimum five attempts) since Amaka Agugua vs.
Georgia State on Feb. 10, 2006.
"It's a relief that I don't have to worry about it anymore,"
Evans said. "Now, I'm trying to get 2,000. I was comfortable shooting the ball.
In the past games, I was rushing some of my shots. Today I calmed down and it
paid off."
Up 32-29, Hofstra scored four straight points on layups from
Thomas and Jackson, leading to a George Mason timeout down seven points with
14:08 left in the contest.
Evans scored in the post and Jackson buried a jump shot to
build a 42-33 edge with just less than 11 minutes left. George Mason moved to within five with 9:03
left before Hofstra's 8-0 run, capped by Jackson's right-corner three-pointer
for a 50-37 edge to provide breathing room.
The cushion came in handy as Evans fouled out with 6:34 left
in the contest. The Patriots got within nine before Jackson scored in transition
and forced a turnover on the next trip down. That set up Thomas' bank-shot for
a 57-44 advantage. Jackson then scored off another layup for the 6-0 run.
With Evans out of the game, freshman Ruth Sherrill played
good defensive down low in playing pressure minutes down the stretch.
Hofstra improved to 9-10 in the all-times series against
George Mason and now has its longest winning streak since last season's squad
also won six in a row.
Evans, who entered the contest averaging a team-leading 16.8
points, is on pace to be Hofstra's first 2,000-career point scorer. The
two-time All-America selection is also leading all Division I women's
basketball active players with 57 career double-doubles.
"It wouldn't be that fulfilling for Shante if we didn't get
the win, and we're all proud of her and we'll celebrate it in front of our fans
the next time we come home," Hofstra head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey said.
Hofstra staved off George Mason's full-court press from the
first half led by Evans shooting 4-for-4 from the field in the period to help
the Pride build a 28-23 advantage going into halftime.
Green helped the Pride build a 16-10 advantage in points in
the paint, pouring in six points. Thomas and senior Candace Bond each hit a
three-pointer to give the Pride a lead at the midway point for the eighth time
in 14 games this season.
George Mason went on a 4-0 run to start the second half,
though junior Anma Onyeuku gave Hofstra a key stabilizing basket not long after
a timeout to make it 30-27.
Hofstra will next be in action on Thursday when the Pride
travels to Philadelphia to take on Drexel at 7 p.m. in a conference tilt.
