Hempstead, NY – Jaylen Hines matched her season-high of 22 points and Selma Markisic added a career-high 18 points, but the Hofstra women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to the James Madison Dukes at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Sunday afternoon.
 
Hines' 22 points came on 10-of-19 shooting from the field, and she also added nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Markisic knocked down a career-high four three-pointers and the most of any Pride players this season, while Rosi Nicholson rounded out the top-three scorers with 13 points. Nicholson also recorded six rebounds. Jahsyni Knight tallied a team-high five assists and added three rebounds and two steals.
 
Hofstra got off to a good start, taking an 11-4 lead over the Dukes by the 5:08 mark in the first quarter. James Madison got with in three points by the end of the frame, 17-14, but Hofstra finished the stana shooting an even 50-percent (8-of-16) from the field. James Madison found the shooting touch to begin the second stanza and knocked down a trio of three-pointers, taking a 23-19 lead over Hofstra with 6:01 to go in the second. The Pride responded with five-straight points by Zyheima Swint and Markisic, re-claiming the lead by one, 24-23. From there, the lead changed five more times by the end of the half, but James Madison had the slight advantage, 33-31 at the midway point.
 
The Pride shined defensively in the third quarter, limiting the Dukes to seven points in the span and a 1-of-9 shooting effort. Nicholson had a big quarter for the Pride, tallying seven points on a pair of three-pointers, helping Hofstra to a 47-10 lead with 10 minutes to play, their largest lead since the 4:18 mark of the first period.
 
James Madison took control in the fourth and out-scored Hofstra, 28-16 within the final 10 minutes. The Dukes shot 8-of-17 from the field, but got help from the free throw line, knocking down 10-of-11 free throws during the stretch. James Madison's Kiki Jefferson, who finished the contest with a game-high 23 points, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter with eight free throws.
 
Hofstra dropped to 6-18 overall and 3-13 in the Colonial Athletic Association with the loss, while James Madison improved to 13-14 overall and 9-7 in the CAA.
 
Hofstra will close out the regular season on the road with a pair of contests in the Carolinas next weekend. The Pride will first battle Charleston at TD Arena on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. before closing out the weekend at UNCW on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is 11-29 all-time against James Madison
-Prior to the contest, Hofstra celebrated its six seniors including Vanerlie Valcourt, Caria Reynolds, JaKayla Brown, Jaala Henry, Jahsyni Knight and Jaylen Hines
-Hines led Hofstra in scoring for the 11th time this season and led in rebounding for the 14th time. It was her 17th game this season with 10 or more points
-Hofstra had a season-high five blocked shots
-The Pride recorded its 11th game this season with 10 or more steals