Hofstra will play two games in the team's Thanksgiving Tournament from Friday through Saturday

Women's Basketball 11/26/2014 9:29:00 AM By Brian Bohl

WBB: Hofstra Set To Host Thanksgiving Tournament This Friday And Saturday

Hempstead, N.Y. – Coming off the first road victory of the season, the Pride will play back-to-back days in the team's Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Hofstra will host Northern Iowa on Friday at approximately 4 p.m. after Western Kentucky and Tulane tip off at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the losers from the previous day will play in the consolation game at 2 p.m. with the winners playing for the tournament title immediately after.

All four games will feature free live video from Pride Productions. Both of Hofstra's games will feature free live audio as well, with Friday's matchup airing locally on WGCH (1490-AM). For ticket information please call the Hofstra Athletics Box Office at (516) HOF-TIXX.

Hofstra (2-2) moved back to .500 following a 64-47 victory over Norfolk State. Sophomore forward Elo Edeferioka continued her strong start with her second double-double in four games with 16 points and 15 rebounds. She leads Hofstra in both categories in averaging 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. The Warri, Nigeria native blocked three shots in the last game and has established a defensive presence that has helped Hofstra hold opponents to 57.8 points-per-game.

Northern Iowa was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. The Panthers are off to a 1-2 start following a 73-45 loss to Iowa on Tuesday.

Tulane is the only undefeated team in the field with a 4-0 record following wins over Mississippi Valley State, McNeese State, LSU and North Carolina State. The Green Wave held the Wolfpack to just 51 points after N.C. State came in with a 75.2 points-per-game average. The team has six players averaging more than five points as part of a balanced attack. Kolby Morgan leads the team with 14 PPG despite coming off the bench in two games.

Western Kentucky is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top-25 national poll that was released on Nov. 24. The Lady Toppers received four votes, which was the same figure as UCLA. WKU is 3-2 after an 89-67 loss to No. 12 Louisville on Tuesday.

Hofstra has employed a deep bench with 10 players averaging more than 11 minutes. Sophomore guard Krystal Luciano is the leader at 36 minutes-per-contest and has racked up a team-high 15 assists. Junior guard Darius Faulk will be looking to share time with Luciano at the point after Faulk recorded four assists in her Hofstra debut at NSU.

Faulk, a transfer from West Virginia, scored six points and added two rebounds. She also shared the court at times with Luciano to give Hofstra a speed; guard-orientated lineup. The duo helped set up sophomore Kelly Loftus, who set a career high with 15 points on the strength of a trio of three-pointers to lift Hofstra to its first road win of the season in Norfolk.

Freshman guard Ashunae Durant earned the Colonial Athletic Association's Rookie of the Week honors after scoring in double figures against both Fairfield and at the defending Atlantic 10-champion Fordham Rams. Durant is one of three Hofstra players averaging in double figures (joining Edeferioka and Loftus) by tallying 11 points-per-game. The Newark, New Jersey product is shooting 52.9 percent from the field.

Defensively, Hofstra has held teams to less than 55 points in half of the team's games. The Pride is 1-1 at the Mack Sports Complex and is coming off a win over Fairfield at home.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Ashunae Durant: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

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

#0 Kelly Loftus: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

#2 Ashunae Durant
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

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

#0 Kelly Loftus
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

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

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