Philadelphia – Hofstra Women's Basketball earned its third straight win as junior Ashunae Durant put up a career-high 28 points to help the Pride to a 75-64 victory over Saint Joseph's on Thursday night at Hagan Arena.

Hofstra (7-3) outscored the Hawks 27-19 in the fourth quarter and shot a season-best 54.5 to earn the victory. In addition to Durant's game-high 28 points, senior Krystal Luciano (13) and junior Aleana Leon (11) also finished in double-figures. Senior Sandra Dongmo led the team on the glass with eight rebounds.
Saint Joseph's (3-8) finished with three players in double figures, led by Chelsea Woods with 20 points. Alyssa Monaghan added 17 and Amanda Fioravanti chipped in 14.

After a slow start for both teams, senior Krystal Luciano hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to give Hofstra a 7-3 lead about midway through the first quarter. Saint Joseph's answered with a 11-3 run to close the stanza with a 14-10 lead.

Durant opened the second quarter with a made layup from Durant, who also drew a foul on the shot and made her free throw to complete the three-point play and bring the Pride back within one. After the Hawks had pushed their lead, Leon put up six quick points to cut the deficit to two. Durant then picked up an offensive rebound and sank the put-back to even the score at 25. Leon then drained another three to give Hofstra a 28-25 lead, but the Hawks quickly tied it again. Durant made a pair of free throws and junior Olivia Askin drained a three from the right-wing for a 33-30 Pride lead at the half.

The teams exchanged baskets to start the third quarter before senior Sydni Epps hit a three to give Hofstra a 38-34 advantage. The Pride pushed its lead to as much as six before Alyssa Monaghan knocked down a three and made a pair of free throws to make it a one-point game once again with 2:30 to go in the third. Hofstra finished the quarter with a 48-45 lead. 

Askin sank a left-wing three to open the decisive fourth quarter. A Dongmo layup with about seven minutes to go pushed the Pride's advantage to eight. After a Durant layup, Luciano came up with a steal and scored on a fast break for a 12-point Hofstra lead. The Pride continued to dominate in the fourth quarter, with Durant chipping in 11 points and Luciano adding six for the 75-64 win.

Hofstra returns home to close non-conference play at 7 p.m. Friday against Hartford.

NOTES
-Durant finished in double figures for the ninth time this season and with 20+ points for the fourth time.
-Leon scored in double figures for the fifth time this season.
-Hofstra evened the all-time series with Saint Joseph's at 2-2.
-The Pride has three straight wins for the first time this season.