WBB: Hofstra Continues WNIT With Saturday’s Second Round Game At Villanova

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will be playing in the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament for the first time in six years when the Pride travels to the Pavilion to face Villanova on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Hofstra (23-8) advanced past the first round of the WNIT for the first time since 2010 when the Pride bested Harvard, 76-50, at home in the opening stage on Friday. The Pride will now face a Villanova squad that is 20-11 following a home win over Liberty.

Live video, for a fee, is available via Villanova. Pride Productions will offer free live audio and the game can be heard via terrestrial radio on WRHU (88.7 FM) starting with a 5:45 p.m. pregame show. Live statistics will also be available.

Senior guard Darius Faulk fell one rebound shy of notching Hofstra's first-ever triple-double when she scored 19 points and tallied a career-high 13 assists while finishing with nine rebounds. Faulk added four steals and shot 8-for-13 from the field in 40 minutes. Her assist total was one shy of matching the school's single-game record.

Hofstra saw a pair of teammates log double-doubles in the same game for the third time this season when sophomore Aleana Leon went for 11 points and 11 rebounds. Leon, who made just her third career start, set a career-high in points and rebounds and also set a personal best in assists with four and minutes played (38).

Leon's first career double-double made her one of Hofstra players to finish in double-figures in scoring. Senior Jakelle King-Gilchrist added 18 points and sophomore forward Ashunae Durant registered 12.

Hofstra has advanced to the WNIT second round for the first time since 2010. The team's win over Harvard was Hofstra's first WNIT victory since upending Penn State in the first round in 2010. Hofstra lost to VCU in the second round that season. The last time Hofstra made the third round was in 2007 when the team made a run to the quarterfinals.

A matchup of 20-win teams will await as the Pride takes on Villanova. The game will be the second time the teams have squared off in the second round of the WNIT at the Pavilion. Hofstra lost, 71-46, in 2006.

Villanova defeated Liberty at home, 67-51, in the opening round. The Wildcats are 10-3 at home this season. The team was a second-seed in the Big East Tournament and saw five players garner all-conference awards. Leading the way is senior guard Caroline Coyer, who was named to the first-team for a second straight year, is averaging a team-best 14 points and is averaging 4.9 rebounds while compiling a team-best 43 steals.

Coyer has helped Villanova's three-point-centric offense in knocking down 57 long-range shots. Adrianna Hahn's 63 three-pointers lead the team. The Wildcats have attempted 864 threes compared to just 374 for the opposition.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#21 Jakelle King-Gilchrist: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#13 Aleana Leon: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

#21 Jakelle King-Gilchrist
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#13 Aleana Leon
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G