WBB: Hofstra Puts 2-0 Record On The Line Versus Patriot League-Champion American

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will look to build on the first 2-0 start for the program since 2009 when the Pride travels to Bender Arena to face the Patriot League-champion American University Eagles on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Hofstra is coming off a 71-66 win over local-rival Stony Brook and will face an American squad that is 0-2 and looking to regain the momentum from last season's NCAA Tournament appearance. Live audio is available via Pride Productions and locally on WRHU (88.7 FM). American will also offer a live video stream as well as live statistics.

Sophomore forward Ashunae Durant has started the new campaign as a force on bot ends of the court, notching double-doubles in victories over the Navy Mids and Seawolves. Durant scored 16 points and posted 15 rebounds against Stony Brook on Tuesday to help Hofstra maintain a lead for 37:33 of game time. Junior guard Kelly Loftus knocked down six three-pointers, falling just one shy of her career high, in notching 26 points to complement Durant's inside game.

Junior guard Krystal Luciano added six assists and contributed five points in 31 minutes. Senior Darius Faulk, who starts in the same back court as Luciano, added three assists and score eight points while registering two steals and using her strength and speed to move down low as well in blocking three shots.

The team effort helped Hofstra go 2-0 to start a season for the first time since the 2009-10 squad went 3-0. Hofstra has out-rebounded both opponents thus far to create an edge on the glass.
American is coming off a Patriot League championship but is off to an 0-2 start after losing at Princeton and against No. 22 George Washington in the previous game. The Eagles are shooting just 30.1 percent from the field. Senior Michelle Holmes scored 17 points to pace American in the last game.

The Eagles were 24-9 last season for a .727 overall winning percentage that included a 16-2 league record. The squad defeated Lehigh to win the conference championship before falling to Iowa in the NCAA Tournament's first round.

Hofstra is 1-2 in the all-time series against American, which dates to 1982-83 when Hofstra was in the program's first year of Division I play. American was a conference opponent then with both teams plying the East Coast Conference. The Pride won the first-ever meeting between the schools, 55-50, before losing at American in the ECC title game to close 1983. The last time the teams met was in 1983-84, when Hofstra lost at home.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Ashunae Durant: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#2 Ashunae Durant
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

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

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

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