Hempstead, NY - Hofstra rallied from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the score, but Northeastern used its own late spurt to post a 55-50 victory Friday night at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The Huskies outscored the Pride 13-8 in the final 3:53 after Hofstra tied the score with a 10-0 run to open the quarter.

Hofstra slipped to 11-16 overall and 5-11 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Northeastern improved to 14-13 overall and 9-7 in league action.

Aleana Leon led Hofstra with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half, and a career-best five steals. Boogie Brozoski added 13 points, while Marianne Kalin had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds. Mikiyah Croskey also grabbed seven boards for the Pride.  

Hofstra raced out to a 7-0 lead 2:22 into the game following a basket from Croskey and two from Brozoski. Following a Northeastern timeout, the Huskies reeled off seven unanswered points to tie the game at seven on Shannon Todd's three-pointer with 4:33 on the clock. Olivia Askin put Hofstra back up with a three before Todd answered right back. The Huskies would take their first lead of the game, 13-12, on Claudia Ortiz's three-pointer with 1:11 remaining and would hold a 16-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team generated much offense to start the second quarter as the Huskies outscored the Pride, 3-0, over the first 4:12. The Pride got on the board in the quarter on a pair of free throws from Sandra Karsten with 5:47 to play to make it 19-16 in favor of the Huskies. That started a 6-0 run for the Pride, which took a 20-19 lead on Brozoski's jumper with 3:34 remaining. But Northeastern closed the half on an 8-0 run, with six of the points on free throws, to take a 27-20 lead at the half.

The Huskies would take a 31-20 lead less than a minute into the third quarter and went up 38-22 with 6:18 to go on a Stella Clark three-pointer. The Pride would get baskets from Croskey and Leon to get within 12 at 38-26 with 4:47 to play. Trailing 40-26, Brozoski scored four straight points to make it a 10-point Hofstra deficit, 40-30, with 2:42 to go. Kalin cut the deficit to eight, 40-32, with 1:06 left in the quarter. But Northeastern hit two free throws with 51 seconds showing to take a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter.

The Pride started the quarter with eight consecutive points, six from Leon, to get within two at 42-40 after a layup from the senior with 6:18 on the clock. E'Lexus Davis extended the run to 10-0 and capped the comeback with a fast break layup with 5:50 remaining to tie the score at 42. Northeastern finally got on the board with 3:53 remaining as Loren Lassiter converted a three-point play to put the Huskies back on top, 45-42. The lead grew to 48-42 before a three-pointer and a free throw made it a two-point game with 1:43 to go. The teams would trade baskets with Northeastern clinging to a 52-50 lead with the ball and 39.2 seconds remaining. Clark was fouled and made one-of-two free throws with the Pride getting the ball and a timeout with 34 ticks left. The Pride could not convert on their possession and Northeastern hit two free throws to seal the win.

Ortiz had a team-high 13 points to pace the Huskies. Giaccone had 12 points, while Clark added 10. Northeastern also got a game-high eight rebounds from Lassiter to go along with seven points.

Hofstra will hit the road for its final two regular season games with the first taking place Sunday at Elon. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Notes:
-The game marked the final home game for Hofstra seniors Aleana Leon, Olivia Askin and Kayla Minott, as well as team manager Tim Dold.
-The game served as Hofstra's Think Pink-Play4Kay game to raise awareness for breast cancer research. The Pride wore pink uniforms and socks.
-Northeastern leads the all-time series with Hofstra, 22-20, and has won four consecutive meetings. The two teams meet again next Saturday in Boston to close out the regular season.
-Aleana Leon has scored in double figures in a team-high 18 games this season.