WBB: Hofstra Welcomes First-Place JMU On Friday

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will face another challenge when the first-place James Madison Dukes visit the Mack Sports Complex on Friday at 7 p.m. in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup.

The Pride is 13-8 and 6-4 in CAA play. JMU is defending the CAA championship and has shown no signs of stopping in starting 18-2 with a 9-0 CAA ledger. The Dukes entered Feb. 2 receiving votes in the USA Today top-25 poll.

Free live video and audio will be available via Pride Productions with the game also on terrestrial radio on WRHU (88.7 FM). Tickets are available at HofstraTickets.com and by calling the box office at (516) HOF-TIXX.

On Sunday, the Pride will cap a three-game homestand with a 1 p.m. game versus William & Mary. That game will be televised by the American Sports Network.
Freshman forward Ashunae Durant has scored in double figures in five straight games and is second on the team with 11.2 points-per-game, which trails only sophomore guard Kelly Loftus' average of 12.

Durant has posted two double-doubles in the last four games, including her second of the season versus Drexel and a 13-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist performance at Northeastern. She nearly recorded her second straight double-double after scoring 12 points and finishing two rebounds shy in the Pride's last game versus Delaware.

Loftus has scored in double figures in each of the last two games, scoring 12 points in each contest. Sophomore forward Elo Edeferioka is the third Pride player to average in double figures at 10.5 points. The Warri, Nigeria native also is the Pride's leading rebounder at 9.1.

Sophomore forward Anjie White has emerged as a scoring threat off the bench. She notched a career-high 16 points and went 8-for-11 from the line against Delaware and is averaging 7.5 points in just 16.9 minutes since starting her Hofstra career after transfering from George Washington University.

The Dukes boast the CAA's top-scoring offense at 75.2 points per game, which is nearly 10 more points per contest than the next-closest opponent in Elon. JMU is outscoring teams by an average of 15.6 points, thanks in part to making 41.1 percent of its shots (one of three teams in the league to crack the 40-percent threshold).

Player of the Year candidate Precious Hall is leading the offense, as the junior is on pace for the scoring title at 21 points per game. That figured is ranked 19th in Division I. The Dukes also have the league's leading rebounder in Lauren Okafor (10.5 boards-per-game), who is averaging a double-double by also scoring 13.6 points.

Hofstra is 8-15 in the all-time series against James Madison. The Pride has lost the last six meetings with the Pride's last victory coming in the second matchup of the 2010-11 season in which Hofstra won at home, 75-73. Hofstra Head Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey was an assistant for four seasons at James Madison before taking over the Pride in time for the 2006-07 season.

James Madison has won nine in a row following an 89-60 home win against Elon.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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