Hempstead, NY -  Freshman Ashunae Durant tallied a game-high 16 points and sophomore Kelly Loftus added 14 to lead the Hofstra Pride to a 66-53 non-conference victory over the Fairfield Stags at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex Tuesday night.

The Pride won their first game of the season to even their record at 1-1 while Fairfield is now 0-3 on the season.

In addition to the 16 points, Durant also grabbed five rebounds including four off the offensive boards. Loftus, who tallied 11 of her 14 points in the second half, was 3-of-6 from the three-point line. Loftus tied a career high in points last set at Drexel on Feb. 2, 2014. Junior forward Dee Thomas-Palmer tallied eight points and sophomore Krystal Luciano added seven points, six rebounds and six assists for the Pride.

Fairfield, which had three players in double-figures, was led by junior Casey Smith's 14 points while classmate Kristin Schatzlein added 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Sophomore Kristine Miller added 10 points for the Stags.

Hofstra built on a three-point halftime lead and extended the edge to as much as 16 as Loftus scored 11 of her points in the second half. Durant, who scored 11 points with nine rebounds in her debut versus CCSU,  shot 5-of-7 and was 6-for-6 from the line in 31 minutes to help the Pride improve to 7-1 in the all-time series against the Stags. 
 
After the Pride scored the first five points in the contest, the Stags chipped away and tied the game at 10-all on a lay-up by Schatzlein at the 15:45 mark. Thomas-Palmer put the Pride back on top with a three-pointer 50 seconds later before sophomore Kristine Miller, Schatzlein and sophomore Kelsey Carey hit consecutive baskets to give the Stags their first and biggest leads of the contest at 16-13.

After tied scores at 17 and 20, Hofstra went on a 10-4 run, behind three points from both Thomas-Palmer and junior Asia Jackson, to build a 30-24 lead after a Loftus lay-up with 3:52 to play in the half. Three Fairfield free throws closed out the scoring in the half with Hofstra holding a 30-27 advantage. Durant led all scorers in the half with 10 points, hitting all five of her shots. Thomas-Palmer added seven. Miller led the Stags with eight points.

Loftus tallied three three-pointers during Hofstra's 12-5 run to open the second half with her third trey giving the Pride their largest lead of the game to that point at 42-32 at the 15:42 mark. After Schatzlein hit a three-pointer at the 14:18 mark, Hofstra on a 15-6 spurt, behind six points by sophomore Elo Edeferioka, over the next 6:35 to take a 57-41 lead with 7:20 to play after a Krystal Luciano three-pointer.

After Smith and Carey hit consecutive lay-ups to cut the deficit to 57-45 with 5:00 to play, Hofstra scored six of the next eight points, with Durant hitting four free throws, to rebuild a 16-point lead with 2:13 remaining. The Stags closed the game scoring six of the last nine points as the Pride recorded their seventh win in eight meetings, 66-53.

Hofstra shot 47 percent from the field in the games while Fairfield shot 60 percent (12-for-20) from the field in the second half and 47 percent for the game. But 23 Stag turnovers, including 11 in the second half, resulted in 20 Hofstra points.

Hofstra returns to action on Friday, Nov. 21 when they travel to Fordham University for a SNY-televised contest at 7 p.m.