WBB: Hofstra Opens 2014-15 Season On Friday Versus CCSU

Hempstead, N.Y. – The Hofstra Women's Basketball program will start the 2014-15 season with a 6 p.m. game against Central Connecticut State on Friday at the Mack Sports Complex.

Following the women's game, the Hofstra Men's Basketball team will start its season against Jacksonville to complete the doubleheader. To purchase tickets, please call the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office at (516) HOF-TIXX. Free live video and audio courtesy of Pride Productions will also be available.

A young Hofstra roster will look to bring speed and skill to a unit that has seven players on the roster looking to make their debuts with the Pride this season. Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey enters her ninth season with a team that features no seniors.

Hofstra still has veteran players at the ready to complement the youth movement. Five juniors – Sydni Epps, Darius Faulk, Asia Jackson, Jakelle King-Gilchrist and Dee Thomas-Palmer, will look to guide a class of four true freshmen. The team will be looking to improve on last season's 14-15 record.

Hofstra returns three players who started at least 18 games in Jackson and sophomores Krystal Luciano and Elo Edeferioka. Edeferioka was named to the All-CAA Rookie Team last season and was an honorable mention to the All-CAA Preseason Team last month. The Warri, Nigeria native led Hofstra with 7.6 rebounds per game.

Edeferioka posted four double-doubles last season to give the Pride productivity from the frontcourt. The guards, led by Jackson's 7.6 points-per-game average, also have Luciano back to handle the point guard responsibilities. Luciano compiled a team-leading 98 assists last season.

Hofstra is 6-6 in the all-time series against CCSU. The Pride fell to the Blue Devils, 64-62, in New Britain, Connecticut last season. Anma Onyeuku had 13 points and 12 rebounds before CCSU won on a jumper at the buzzer.

The teams once shared a conference with biannually games in the East Coast Conference in the 1990s. The first meeting between the schools occurred in the 1989-90 season with Hofstra losing at home. The Pride won the last home matchup with a 67-60 victory at the Mack Sports Complex in 2011-12.

CCSU is coming off an 11-17 showing in 2013-14. The Blue Devils concluded the season with nine losses in the last 11 games. CCSU went 5-13 in the NEC. But CCSU returns nine players from last year's squad and welcomes four new members. The Blue Devils finished in a tie for ninth with Fairleigh Dickinson in the NEC preseason poll released on Oct. 21.

Senior guard Kaley Watras is CCSU's leading returning scorer after averaging 8.5 points along with 2.2 rebounds last season. Junior forward Nicole Ferguson, who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer against Hofstra last season, is also back.

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Players Mentioned

#40 Anma Onyeuku: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#24 Dee Thomas-Palmer: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#1 Asia Jackson: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#11 Krystal Luciano: G; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#10 Elo Edeferioka: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#21 Jakelle King-Gilchrist: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Sydni Epps: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#12 Darius Faulk: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#40 Anma Onyeuku
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#24 Dee Thomas-Palmer
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#1 Asia Jackson
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#11 Krystal Luciano
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Elo Edeferioka
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

#21 Jakelle King-Gilchrist
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#3 Sydni Epps
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#12 Darius Faulk
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G