Elon, N.C. – Sophomore forward Anjie White converted a layup in the final five seconds and sophomore guard Krystal Luciano generated a steal off the ensuing inbounds pass to help Hofstra turn a one-point deficit into a lead in the Pride's 55-53 win over Elon in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup on Sunday afternoon from Alumni Gym.

White scored all 16 of her points in the second half, finishing just one point shy of a career high. Freshman forward Ashunae Durant scored 13 points with six rebounds as a reserve and sophomore guard Kelly Loftus scored 14 points. Hofstra swept its two game Carolina swing to improve to 16-9 overall and 9-5 in CAA play.

Junior guard Darius Faulk added seven points and three assists to help Hofstra earn the victory in the first-ever meeting between the schools. Elon dropped to 14-10 overall and 7-6 in CAA play in a game that could have major implications for the conference tournament seeding.

Hofstra erased a double-digit deficit in the contest in part by holding an edge on the glass. Four players notched at least five rebounds as the Pride held a 45-34 edge on the boards. The Pride also won the possession battle with 11 more field goal attempts.

White was clutch in the most important moments, hitting two free throws with 1:43 left to tie the score at 50. Down 53-52 and out of a timeout, White missed a layup but got her own rebound and put the score in with less than five seconds on the clock.

Luciano, who had five assists, then picked up her third and most important steal on the subsequent inbounds pass. Luciano took the ball away from Sam Coffer and hit her second free throw for a two-point Hofstra lead with four seconds left. Elon could not get a final shot off before the buzzer as Hofstra defeated the first-year CAA-member Phoenix.

Both teams saw a reserve score in double figures. Zora Stephenson scored 11 points for Elon, tying Shay Burnett for the team lead. Coffer finished with seven points and eight rebounds and Malaya scored eight points.

Loftus scored in double figures for the sixth straight games. She has scored at least 12 points in every game since Jan. 29.
 
Elon went ahead as much as 13 in the first half. The Pride chipped away at the deficit, forging a 6-0 run capped by Faulk's steal and coast-to-coast layup brought Hofstra within 28-21 and prompted an Elon timeout.

Loftus and Durant kept Hofstra in the game despite the early double-digit shortfall, combing for all but six of Hofstra's points in the first half. Loftus scored 11 points and Durant came off the bench to score nine points on 4-of-7 shooting for 20 combined points for the duo. Elon took a 33-26 edge into the locker room, which was just the 10th time in 25 games the Pride trailed at halftime.

Both teams wore pink as part of the Play 4Kay initiative for breast cancer awareness. The official charity is the Kay Yow Cancer Found. Hofstra Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey played for Yow at N.C. State. Yow was also the first head coach of the Elon women's basketball program.

Hofstra will return home to face Towson in a CAA matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. from the Mack Sports Complex. The Pride defeated the Tigers, 58-42, on the road in the first meeting between the schools on Jan. 11.