Elon, N.C. – Hofstra Women's Basketball fell to first-place Elon, 72-61, on Thursday night in Alumni Gym.

After a slow start, the Pride (10-15, 3-11 Colonial Athletic Association) fought back and stayed within striking distance for most of the game. Junior Ashunae Durant led the Pride with 14 points and eight rebounds, while freshman Marianne Kalin chipped in 13 points and senior Krystal Luciano added 10 to go along with eight assists.

Elon (20-5, 12-2 CAA) had three players finish in double figures, led by Lauren Brown's 27. Jennifer Rhodes added 14 and Malaya Johnson chipped in 11.
The Phoenix broke things open early, getting out to a 7-0 start and prompting Hofstra to call a timeout. The Pride got on the board out of the stoppage, but Elon answered with a three-pointer for a 12-2 lead. Hofstra scored on back-to-back possessions before seniors Sydni Epps and Krystal Luciano both drained threes to bring the Pride within four, 16-12. After Hofstra had gotten within two, 20-18, Burnett knocked down a late three for a 23-18 Elon lead at the end of the first.

Burnett opened the scoring in the second half, and a pair of foul shots pushed the Phoenix's lead back to nine. Freshman Ana Hernandez Gil drained a right-corner three for Hofstra's first points of the half to make it 29-21. Luciano then drove in for a layup to cut the deficit to six. Hernandez Gil then cashed in again to bring the Pride within three 29-26, with just under two minutes left in the half. Elon halted Hofstra's 8-0 run with a jumper from Rhodes. After the Phoenix had pushed the lead back to seven, Luciano hit another three, cutting it to 33-29 at the break.

Elon opened the second half on a 7-2 run before junior Olivia Askin snapped it with a right-wing three to make it 40-34. Her second trey of the night brought Hofstra back within five, 44-39, with just under four minutes left in the third, but the Phoenix responded at the other end with two threes to push the lead to 10. Kalin then made a put-back and was fouled on the shot, cashing in on the free throw to complete the three-point play. Durant made both of her foul shots a moment later to cut it to seven before putting in an offensive rebound to bring Hofstra within five, 51-46, at the end of the quarter.

Kalin sank a mid-range jumper to open the fourth, but Elon answered back. It was Kalin again, this time with a layup, who brought Hofstra back within four, 54-50, with about eight minutes to go. Durant then made a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game. After free throws had pushed Elon's lead back to four, Lauren Brown hit a three, but Hernandez Gil came right back with one for the Pride to make it 59-55. She then found Kalin under the basket for an easy layup to close within two again. A series of technical fouls allowed Elon to take a 68-57 lead before sealing the win at 72-61.

Hofstra closes its southern road swing at UNCW at noon on Sunday.

Notes:
-Durant scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season.
-Kalin notched her third career game in double figures.
-Luciano finished with eight assists in back-to-back games.