Hempstead, NY – Sophomore Kelly Loftus tallied a team-high 17 points and classmate Elo Edeferioka added 16 to lead four Pride players in double-figures as Hofstra defeated the Seahawks of UNCW, 71-57 in a Colonial Athletic Association contest at the Mack Sports Complex Sunday afternoon.

Hofstra, which won for the fifth time in the last six outings, improved to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the CAA. The Seahawks, which dropped their third consecutive contest, slipped to 6-11 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Loftus was 6-for-11 from the field, including two three-pointers, and grabbed seven rebounds for the Pride. Edeferioka was 6-for-8 from the field and also grabbed seven boards including six on the offensive end. Freshman Ashunae Durant tallied 14 points while junior Darius Faulk added 11 points, a game-high seven rebounds and six rebounds. Sophomore Anjie White had seven blocked shots of Hofstra's 13 blocked shots in the game. The Pride shot 48 percent (28-for-59) from the field and tallied 42 points in the paint.

UNCW was led by senior Kelva Atkins and junior Shatia Cole with each recording 18 points and four rebounds. Atkins also added five assists for the Seahawks, which shot just 31 percent (22-72) from the field.
 
Hofstra, which never trailed in the game, scored the first nine points of the contest, with Edeferioka posted seven in the run including two free throws at the 17:03 mark to end the run. But the Seahawks tallied six of the next eight points, including four by Atkins, to close to 11-6 just 80 seconds later. Faulk then hit consecutive baskets for Hofstra to start an 8-3 spurt over the next 2:32 and give the Pride a 19-9 advantage on an Epps lay-up with 12:50 to play in the period.

UNCW clawed back and went on a 14-5 run, behind six points each by Mobley and Cole, over the next 3:57 to close to within one at 24-23 on a Cole three-point play at the 8:06 mark. After Loftus for Hofstra and Steele for UNCW exchanged three-pointers, the Pride outscored the Seahawks 13-5 over the last 6:49 to build a 40-31 halftime lead. Edeferioka and Loftus each had 10 points for Hofstra while White recorded a career-high seven blocked shots in the first 20 minutes. Atkins led the Seahawks with 12 points while Cole added eight.
 
Loftus opened up the second half with a three-pointer and a jumper to give Hofstra its largest lead of the contest at 45-31 just 1:20 into the period. But the Seahawks, once again, battled back and went on a 10-0 run, behind four points from Flowers and three each from Atkins and Cole, over the next 1:44 to close to within four at 45-41 with 15:16 to play.

After Hofstra tallied the next four points to rebuild an eight point lead, UNCW chipped away and closed to 51-48 on a Flowers jumper with 9:59 to play. But Faulk's lay-up a minute later started a 15-3 Hofstra run over the next 4:19 that gave the Pride a 66-51 advantage with 4:40 to play. Edeferioka had four points in the run. Atkins hit two free throws for the Seahawks eight seconds later before Durant tallied five of the next nine points as the Pride posted the 71-57 victory.
 
Hofstra returns to action on Thursday, January 22 when the Pride host the Drexel Dragons in a CAA contest at the Mack Sports Complex. Game time for the weekday matinee is noon.