Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will kick off the 2013-14 campaign on Friday when the Pride takes on Robert Morris in a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. from the Charles L. Sewall Center.
The audio only broadcast of Friday's game can be heard through Pride Zone on GoHofstra.com. Robert Morris will also offer a live video stream of the game.
A young roster consisting of nine underclassmen will look give Hofstra a boost this season after a 14-17 finish in 2012-13. The Pride will complement a youth movement with veteran leadership as the Pride once again seeks to field a competitive team in the challenging Colonial Athletic Association.
The 2013-14 Hofstra squad will look to replace two key graduating seniors in Shante Evans and Candace Bond. But the Pride returns talented and game-tested veterans, led by junior CAA assist leader Andreana Thomas and senior forward Anma Onyeuku. Overall, Hofstra returns four players who started 10 or more games.
Hofstra boasted a five-member freshman class last season that has now swelled to a six-player sophomore unit thanks to the addition of transfer Jakelle King-Gilchrist from Florida State. Hofstra added to its youth movement by bringing in three freshmen, including two guards and a forward. Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey is back for her eighth season and will be looking for her sixth winning campaign. After leading Hofstra to three WNIT appearances in her tenure, the Pride will be aiming for the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Hofstra is 0-1 against the Colonials in the only previous meeting between the schools. The only previous matchup came in 2000 when Hofstra fell to RMU, 72-68, in the Christmas City Classic at Lehigh.
Robert Morris is the preseason favorite in the 2013-14 Northeast Conference coaches poll. The Colonials, who have the NEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year returning, earned five of a possible nine first-place votes and are the favorite for the first time since the 2008-09 season and third time overall.
Senior forward Artemis Spanou, the reigning NEC Player of the Year, was a unanimous pick for the Preseason All-NEC Team. Spanou led the nation in rebounding as a junior by posting 15.6 rebounds per game. She also led the league in scoring at 19.1 points per game. She has already eclipsed the 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound mark.
Thomas is coming off a season in which she averaged 8.9 points and 6.7 assists. Her 206 total assists paced the CAA and was 1.7 more per game than the next-closest competitor in the conference. The point guard's average was the 10th-highest in Division I.
Onyeuku, who like Thomas was picked to the All-CAA Preseason second team, averaged 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. She is Hofstra's top returning scorer and rebounder. A high-efficiency shooter, Onyeuku's 51.2 percent field goal percentage was the league's third-highest mark.
Hofstra will also look for contributions from a three-member freshman class led by 6-3 forward Elo Edeferioka and guards Kelly Loftus and Krystal Luciano.
