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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Kelly Loftus
Kelly Loftus scored a career-high 30 points in Hofstra's loss to James Madison
77
Winner James Madison JMU 19-2, 10-0 CAA
68
Hofstra HOFSTRA 13-9, 6-5 CAA
Winner
James Madison JMU
19-2, 10-0 CAA
77
Final
68
Hofstra HOFSTRA
13-9, 6-5 CAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
James Madison JMU 44 33 77
Hofstra HOFSTRA 20 48 68

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | By Len Skoros

WBB: Loftus Scores 30, But Hofstra Rally Falls Short

Hempstead, NY - Kelly Loftus scored a game and career-high 30 points, but a second half Hofstra rally fell short in a 77-68 loss to James Madison Friday night at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Hofstra rallied from a 26-point deficit in the second half, getting as close as four points on two occasions late in the game.

James Madison, which is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll, improved to 19-2 on the season and 10-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The win was the Dukes' 10th consecutive victory and also marked the 300th career win in Head Coach Kenny Brooks' career.

Hofstra slipped to 13-9 overall and 6-5 in the CAA.

Loftus' 30 points eclipsed her previous high of 25 and was the highest point total by a Pride player since All-American Shante Evans scored 33 versus George Mason on January 31, 2013. She scored 28 of Hofstra 48 second half points. Darius Faulk was the only other player in double-figures for the Pride with 15 points. Elo Edeferioka would tally a game-high 15 rebounds.

After trailing by 24 points at the half, Hofstra was able to cut the deficit to 19, 50-31, with 16:07 to play following a three-pointer from Loftus. Following a JMU basket, Loftus made it an 18-point game with another three-pointer to make the score 52-34. The Pride would then use a 7-3 run that featured two baskets from Faulk and another three-pointer from Loftus to get within 14, 55-41, with 12:36 to play.

Precious Hall and Loftus traded baskets over the next 51 seconds, but both of the Hofstra guard's buckets were from long-range as the lead was cut to 13 with 11:08 to play. Trailing 68-55, the Pride used a 5-0 run to get within eight points, 68-60, on a Faulk layup with 4:53 to go. After trading baskets, the Pride made it a two-possession game, 70-64, on two free throws from Loftus with 2:45 to go. After forcing a turnover, Loftus was fouled again and converted both to make it 70-66 with 2:15 on the clock. The teams traded baskets, but JMU would score the final five points to take the nine-point win.
  
Hofstra built a 7-4 lead 3:07 into the game following a layup from Faulk and a three-pointer from Krystal Luciano. The Dukes responded with a 32-7 run over the next 12:13 to take a 36-14 advantage with 4:21 to play. Eight different players scored in the run for James Madison. The lead would grow to as many as 26, 44-18, with 51 ticks left on Hall's jumper before a put back from Edeferioka cut the deficit to 24 at halftime, 44-20.

The Dukes shot 52 percent in the opening 20 minutes and had nine players score, including seven players with at least four points. The Pride shot just 21 percent in the half, but did have 10 offensive rebounds led by Edeferioka's five. The second half saw James Madison slip to 32 percent shooting while Hofstra upped its shooting to 42 percent.  

Hall led James Madison with 23 points while Angela Mickens had 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Hofstra is back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. versus William & Mary. The game will be televised on SNY and will also be also be Hofstra's Alumnae Day. In addition, the Pride will wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness as part of the Play 4 Kay initiative. For tickets, call the Hofstra Athletics Ticket office at (516) HOF-TIXX or visit HofstraTickets.com.
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