Richmond, VA – Sorelle Ineza and Emma Von Essen finished in double figures for the Hofstra women's basketball team, but VCU claimed a 72-44 win over the Pride to kick off the 2023-24 season from the Siegel Center on the VCU campus.
 
Ineza led the Pride with 14 points on 6-14 shooting and collected three rebounds, and Von Essen dropped 11 points in her season debut with 3-6 from three-point range. Zyheima Swint paced the Pride with seven rebounds, while Ally Knights dished out a trio of assists. Newcomer Brooke Anya led the visitors with two blocks while adding seven points and four rebounds in her Hofstra debut.
 
Von Essen scored the first five Hofstra points of the contest to help the Pride jump out to a four-point lead at the first media timeout. The Rams cut Hofstra's lead to one before Ineza hit a long two to make it a 13-10 Hofstra lead, but VCU scored the final eight points of the quarter to lead, 18-13.
 
Von Essen cut VCU's lead to two with a trey, but it would be the closest Hofstra would come to retaking the lead all night as the Rams outscored the Pride 19-9 in the second quarter to open up a 15 point advantage at the halftime break.
 
The hosts upped their lead to 17 points following a 14-12 third quarter, before pulling away with a 21-point fourth quarter to come away with the win in their home-opener.
 
Mary-Anna Asare led all players with 14 points in the contest, while Timaya Lewis-Eutsey and Sarah Te-Biasu finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, and Lewis-Eutsey pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
 
The Pride opens its home schedule on Sunday, November 12, against Wagner. Tip-off from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is scheduled for 2 p.m. on MSGSN and FloHoops. For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com, call (516) HOF-TIXX, or stop by the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office in the lobby of the Mack Sports Complex.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record against VCU is now 5-17. This was the first meeting between Hofstra and VCU since 2012.
-Selma Markisic made her first appearance after missing all of 2022-23 due to injury.