Hempstead, NY – Senior Sica Cuzic recorded 14 points and a career-high 16 rebound to lead four Pride players in double-figures as Hofstra defeated Wilmington University, 77-56 in a non-conference contest at the David S. Mack Sports Complex Saturday afternoon. The Pride improve to 6-6 on the season with their third consecutive victory while the Division II Wildcats remain at 1-9 on the season in the exhibition matchup.

In addition to Cuzic, who recorded her fourth career double-double, Hofstra received 14 points from junior Ana Hernandez-Gil, 13 points from senior Boogie Brozoski and a season-high 10 points from freshman Vanerlie Valcourt. The Pride, who shot 49% (32-66) from the field, set season-highs for rebounds (46), assists (23), blocked shots (6) and tied their season-high with 12 steals.

Wilmington, which played with seven active players, had three in double-figures led by graduate-student Macy Robinson with 14 points, sophomore Jadyn Whitsitt added 12 points and senior Nyree Grant contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats shot 28% (16-57) from the field.
 
Saturday's contest was decided early as the Pride produced their best offensive quarter of the season while racing to a 27-8 lead after one quarter. With the score was tied at 2-2, Hofstra tallied 12 of the next 14 points to open a 14-4 advantage. Cuzic had seven points and Hernandez-Gil added five in the spurt.

After Macy Robinson scored on a driving lay-up for the Wildcats to cut the deficit to 14-6, Brozoski's three-pointer started a 11-0 Pride run that boosted the Hofstra lead to 25-6 with 1:54 to play in the first quarter. The Pride's Mie Hoff and Wilmington's Mikala Casimir exchanged two free throws in the final 71 seconds to close out the first with Hofstra up, 27-8. The Pride shot 48% (10-21) from the field, including 4-for-7 from the three-point line, while the Wildcats hit on just three of 20 shots.

The second quarter wasn't much better for the visitors although Wilmington opened the period sandwiching baskets by Jaelyn Durrett and Emily Ansah around Brozoski's two free throws for Hofstra. But the Pride scored the next 12 points behind four points from Vanerlie Valcourt and three each from Brozoski and Hernandez-Gil to open up a 41-12 lead with 3:03 to play in the half. Hofstra threatened their first quarter output, outscoring the Wildcats, 10-6 over the last 2:39 to take a 51-18 lead at halftime. The Pride shot 59% (10-17) in the second quarter while the Wildcats continued to struggle from the field hitting 3-of-15 shots.

The two teams played even in the third quarter with each posting 13 points as the Pride continued to hold on to their 33-point halftime lead at 64-31. But the Wildcats took advantage of Hofstra using most of their bench and outscored the Pride, 25-13 in the fourth quarter to close to 77-56 at the final buzzer.

Hofstra returns to action on Friday, January 4 when the Pride host the Tribe of William and Mary in their Colonial Athletic Association opener at the Mack Sports Complex. Game time is 7 p.m.
 
Notes
- Saturday's game was the first-ever meeting between Hofstra and Wilmington.
- Hofstra's 27 points in the first quarter were the Pride's most in their previous 44 quarters, topping the 26 points scored in the second quarter against Sacred Heart on November 29. Hofstra's 51 first half points were also a season-high.
- Brozoski scored in double-figures for the 12th time this season and the 32nd time in her career. Hernandez-Gil posted her seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 12th of her career while Valcourt recorded her first double-figure contest.
- Cuzic notched her seventh game in double figure scoring this season, her fourth game in double-figure rebounds and her fourth double-double of the season and of her career.
-Hofstra had a season-high 23 assists
- Hofstra's 77 points are a season-high, topping the 74 against Iona on November 6.