Hempstead, NY - Emma Von Essen had a team-high nine points in Hofstra's 63-44 loss to North Carolina A&T in a Colonial Athletic Association game at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex Sunday afternoon. The Aggies saw three players in double figures, led by Jazmin Harris' 16 points.
Hofstra slipped to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in CAA play with the loss. North Carolina A&T improved to 10-5 overall and 4-0 in league action. The Aggies have won five consecutive games.
The Pride trailed the Aggies, 14-7, after one quarter. The Pride started strong with two consecutive baskets before North Carolina A&T went on an 11-0 run. Alarice Gooden brought Hofstra within four, 11-7, with 2:26 to go following a three-pointer. Three free throws from the visitors in the final minute made it a seven-point game at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
Hofstra would pick up its offensive production in the second half but still trailed at the half, 29-23. The Aggies led 20-10 before the Pride used a 7-0 run to get within three. Zyheima Swint started the spurt with a second-chance layup followed by a three-pointer from Sorelle Ineza after a turnover. Brandy Thomas took advantage of another turnover with a layup to cap the run with 5:22 to go. Following an Aggies free throw, Thomas cut the Hofstra deficit to two, 21-19, with a layup with 3:56 on the clock. North Carolina A&T would score four unanswered points to go up by six with 2:26 remaining and the teams traded baskets the rest of the period.
Von Essen opened up the third quarter with a three-pointer to make it a three-point game, 29-26. However, the Aggies had an answer once again and ran off 11 straight points to go up by 14, 40-26, with 4:01 remaining. Maleia Bracone had five points in the run to pace the Aggies. The Aggies would maintain the 14-point advantage, 46-32, at the end of three quarters.
The Aggies scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to lead by 18 before an Ally Knights three-pointer made it a 15-point game, 50-35 with 7:34 to play. That was as close as the Pride would get as the Aggies extended the lead to as many as 23, 61-38, with 2:51 remaining. The Pride would get three–pointers from Von Essen and Janaia Fargo in the final 1:30 to make it a 19-point final margin.
Fargo finished with seven points for the Pride, while Swint, Thomas, and Knights added six points each. Knights also had a team-best six rebounds and five assists.
In addition to Harris, the Aggies received 15 points from Bracone and 12 from Dmya Tucker. Tucker also added a game-high 11 rebounds.
Hofstra returns to action Friday, January 13, at UNCW. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Notes:
-This was the first meeting between the Pride and the Aggies.
-The Pride did not attempt a free throw in the contest.
-Hofstra's 44 points was a season-low.
-The Aggies scored 33 points off 24 Hofstra turnovers.
