Hempstead, NY - Hofstra went toe-to-toe with Colonial Athletic Association-leading Drexel before the Dragons pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 63-47 victory over the Pride at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex Friday night. Hofstra trailed by one point in the fourth quarter before the Dragons closed the game with a 19-4 run. Jahsyni Knight tied a season-high with 14 points and Jaylen Hines added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Pride.

Hofstra saw its two-game win streak end and slipped to 5-13 overall and 2-8 in the CAA. Drexel, which saw a 14-game win streak snapped in its last game, improved to 18-3 overall and 10-1 in league action.

Rosi Nicholson joined Knight and Hines in double-figures with a season-high 11 points. In addition to her scoring, Knight added a season-best five steals and had three assists.  

Hofstra started fast and led, 5-0, 1:30 into the game behind a three-pointer and a steal and a layup from Knight. The Dragons responded with a 10-0 run over the next nearly five minutes. Knight stopped the run with a jumper in the paint with 3:37 to play in the quarter. That ignited a 6-0 spurt for the Pride with Nicholson scoring before Knight finished with a layup on the break to give the lead back to Hofstra, 11-10. The teams traded baskets with Drexel scoring last to lead by one, 15-14, after the opening 10 minutes.

The second quarter saw the Pride and the Dragons go back and forth. The Pride scored the first four points of the quarter and then the teams alternated baskets for four possessions. With the Pride leading 23-20 following a three from Nicholson, Drexel started a 7-0 run that gave the Dragons a 27-23 lead with 4:17 remaining. Knight snapped the run to make it a two-point game with 2:45 to play but Maura Hendrixson hit a three-pointer with 1:38 on the clock to push the Drexel lead to five, 30-25. That would be the last basket of the half.  

Hofstra cut its deficit to four points early in the third quarter but the Dragons hit a quick three on the other end to go ahead by seven, 35-28, with 8:25 to play. Drexel would extend the lead to nine with 6:30 remaining. Hofstra would battle back used a 7-0 run to get within two, 39-37, with 1:35 to go. Knight had a three-pointer, while Selma Markisic and Hines added baskets. However, Drexel came up with another late three-pointer to take a five-point advantage, 42-37, into the fourth quarter.

The Pride made it a one-possession game to start the fourth as Caria Reynolds' layup made it 42-39. Reynolds would hit a free throw two possessions later to make it 42-40 with 8:38 remaining. Following a Drexel basket, Nicholson drained a three-pointer from the wing with 7:52 on the clock to pull Hofstra within one, 44-43. Drexel followed with a 7-0 run to take a 51-43 lead and force a Hofstra timeout with 5:36 to go. The lead would grow to 12, 55-43, with 2:28 to play before Hines snapped the 11-0 Dragon run with a layup 13 seconds later. Drexel would score eight of the final 10 points to take the 16-point victory.

Keishana Washington led three Drexel players in double-figure scoring with 21 points. Hannah Nihill had 16 points and seven assists, while Tessa Brugler added 11 points and eight rebounds. Hendrixson had eight rebounds for Drexel as well.

Hofstra returns to action Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. when it hosts Delaware. Tickets are available at HofstraTickets.com or at the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office on Sunday beginning one hour before game time.

Notes:
-The game featured four tie scored and 14 lead changes.
-Hofstra is 31-46 all-time versus Drexel
-Knight scored in double-figures for the second consecutive game and third game overall this season.
-Hines' double-double was her fourth of the season and 15th of her career.
-Jaala Henry pulled down nine rebounds for Hofstra with seven on the offensive end.