WBB: Hofstra Puts Winning Streak On Line Against Virginia Tech

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will carry a four-game winning streak into the first game following the holiday break as the Pride will face Virginia Tech with a road game on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. from Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.

The Pride (7-3) will be playing an ACC-member school on the road for the second consecutive game after defeating Boston College, 75-61, after four players finished in double figures. Virginia Tech (8-4) is on a four-game winning streak with victories over Longwood, North Carolina Central, Western Carolina and Radford. Virginia Tech has played especially well at home with a 7-2 start.

Free live audio will be available via Pride Productions and on WRHU (88.7 FM). Virginia Tech will also offer a live video stream of the game.

Sophomore guard Kelly Loftus has scored at least 15 points in each of her last four games and has twice cracked the 20-point mark in that span. The Alexandria, Virginia native scored 20 of her 22 points against Boston College in the second half and made five three-pointers. She surpassed sophomore forward Elo Edeferioka for the team scoring lead at 12.6 points per game.

Edeferioka is averaging a double-double with 12.1 points and 10.2 rebounds. She notched her fourth double-double of the season by recording 15 points and 13 rebounds and tying a season-high with three blocks in 28 minutes against the Eagles at Conte Forum.

With the win over Boston College, the Pride defeated an ACC squad for the first time under Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey and won against a power-conference school for the 12th time since the 2006-07 campaign. Hofstra has won eight of the last 16 games against opponents that belong to those conferences.

Redshirt sophomore Anjie White showed that she could help Edeferioka in the low post when the George Washington transfer scored seven points and hauled in four rebounds in just 11 minutes in her Hofstra debut. White, who played in her first game since the 2012-13 season, blocked a shot and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Her efforts at the stripe helped Hofstra shoot better than 80 percent from the line for a second straight game. After accomplishing the feat at NJIT, the Pride went 24-for-29 against Boston College.

Freshman Ashunae Durant, who already has racked up three Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week honors, is coming off a 10-point, seven-rebound game while sophomore guard Krystal Luciano poured in 12 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. Luciano shared the point guard responsibilities with junior Darius Faulk, who stayed on the court for 38 minutes and tallied six points, three assists and three steals.

The Pride has not allowed a team to crack the 50 percent shooting mark from the field this season and has held teams to less than 60 points on six occasions, with a season-low 47 points allowed against Norfolk State and NJIT.

Hofstra is 0-1 in the all-time series against Virginia Tech. The Pride lost at home last season, 77-72, in overtime. Edeferioka scored six points and added 11 rebounds in that contest. Hofstra scored 22 points in the paint in that contest.

Rachel Camp is averaging 18.4 points and 7.3 rebounds and Regan Magarity is a constant double-double threat by averaging 14 points and 10.6 rebounds. Virginia Tech is holding teams to less than 60 points on average (59.8) and 36.8 percent field goal shooting.

Virginia Tech has raced to hot starts in out-scoring foes, 386-305, in the first half. The opening 20 minutes could be the key to game, as Hofstra is 7-0 when leading at halftime.

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Players Mentioned

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

#20 Anjie White: F; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#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

#20 Anjie White
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: F

#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