BRONX, N.Y. – Senior guard Sandra Karsten and senior forward Marianne Kalin finished in double figures for the Hofstra women's basketball team but the Pride dropped its final non-conference contest of the season to the Samford Bulldogs, 65-45 at the Fordham Holiday Classic on Monday.
 
Karsten posted a season-high 13 points off a 5-of-9 overall effort from the floor while also shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. In addition to her offensive efforts, Karsten added four rebounds and three assists for the Pride. Kalin tallied 10 points while shooting 3-of-7 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. Redshirt sophomore Jaylen Hines had a solid day as well, chipping in seven points with a game-high 12 rebounds. Freshman Sorelle Ineza and redshirt freshman Bri Crutchfield added six points each.
 
Samford jumped out to an 11-2 lead within the first five minutes of the contest, but a three-pointer by Karsten and jump shot by Crutchfield trimmed the Bulldog lead back to four. Samford finished the quarter shooting 10-of-20 from the field to stretch its lead out to 23-12 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Hofstra limited the Bulldogs to 35 percent shooting from the floor in the second quarter while matching a game-best 50 percent (4-of-8) effort as a team. Karsten hit a three-pointer at the 4:32 mark in the frame to pull Hofstra within eight points, but Samford used an 8-0 run to take a 35-19 advantage not long before halftime.
 
The Pride had its best overall quarter of the day in the third with another 50 percent shooting effort while holding Samford to 3-of-13 from the floor defensively. Hofstra scored seven-straight points including five by Karsten, who trimmed the Samford lead back to nine with a nice driving reverse layup with 1:12 on the clock in the third. The Bulldogs maintained control throughout the final stanza to hold on to the victory.
 
Hofstra will enjoy just under a week off before diving into Colonial Athletic Association action against the Northeastern Huskies on Sunday, January 5. Tip-off against the Huskies at Matthews Arena is set for 2 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra and Samford met for the first time in program history
-Marianne Kalin finished in double figures in her fifth out of the last six games
-Sandra Karsten was two points away from matching her career-high of 15