Wilmington, N.C. – Senior Krystal Luciano recorded the first triple-double in program history as Hofstra toppled UNCW, 66-54, on Sunday afternoon at Trask Coliseum. 

Luciano finished with 21 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Pride. Junior Ashunae Durant added 12 points, while classmate Aleana Leon chipped in 10. Jasmine Steele led the Seahawks with 16 points with Madison Raque adding 14.

Junior Olivia Askin opened the scoring for the Pride (11-15, 4-11 Colonial Athletic Association) with a left-wing three. Senior Sydni Epps then added four points to take a 7-5 lead, but the Seahawks (9-17, 4-11 CAA) quickly tied it at seven. A three-pointer from Timber Tate gave UNCW a 10-9 lead. After the Pride had taken the lead back, Luciano made a pair of threes for a 17-12 advantage. Junior Aleana Leon hit another trey for the Pride, marking a 13-2 run for Hofstra. The Pride took a 26-18 lead into the second quarter.

Six points from Jasmine Steele brought the Seahawks within four, 28-24, early in the second stanza. Luciano drove to the basket to halt the UNCW run, but Madison Raque answered back with a deep three to cut the Pride's lead to three. But a pair of treys from Askin at the other end lent to a 38-29 Hofstra advantage with 3:15 left in the quarter. Leon drained the Pride's seventh three of the day before Steele hit a long-range jumper to make it 43-33 at the break.

The third quarter got off to a slow start, with both teams facing scoring droughts of over two minutes midway through the frame. Durant snapped the dry spell for Hofstra with two layups with about four minutes remaining. A three-pointer from Jenny DeGraaf cut the lead to 49-42, and the Pride took a 51-43 advantage into the final frame.

Luciano picked up her 10th rebound and 10th assist early in the fourth quarter before sinking a right-wing three to give Hofstra a 56-47 lead with 5:35 to go. Durant made a pair of free throws to push the advantage to 58-47. Four made shots from the stripe brought the Seahawks within seven. Luciano made an easy layup to push the lead back to nine with under two minutes to go, but Steele answered right back with a mid-range jumper. Epps made both of her free throws and then pulled down a defensive rebound at the other end before Luciano went 4-for-4 from the stripe to seal her career day and cap the 66-54 Hofstra win. 

The Pride returns to Hempstead for its final two home games of the season, hosting Towson at 7 p.m. on Friday and Drexel at 2 p.m. on Sunday for Senior Day. Tickets are available by calling (516) HOF-TIXX or visiting HofstraTickets.com

Notes:
-Luciano joins Abby Rendle (points-rebounds-blocks) as the only CAA players to record triple-doubles this season.
-The feat also marks the first points-rebounds-assists triple-double since Abby Redick of Drexel recorded one (12 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) on Jan. 16, 2014 against William & Mary.
-Luciano's 10 rebounds were a career high and her 21 points also tied a career best. She came into the contest with three career double-doubles.
-Durant scored in double figures for the ninth straight game and 23rd time this season.