Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra women's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter against visiting Iona to just three points with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, but they couldn't complete the comeback attempt as the Pride dropped a 59-54 result at home to the Gaels.
Hofstra sees its record drop to 4-4, and Iona improves to 4-3 on the season.
Zyheima Swint notched her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Pride, and she added three assists and a steal in the defeat.
Emma Von Essen tallied 11 points, a trio of rebounds, and one block, while
Brooke Anya posted eight points and nine rebounds, and
Ally Knights led with five assists to go with her eight points and three steals.
With the score tied at 4-4 inside the first three minutes and change of the opening quarter, Iona took a three-point lead behind a three by Petra Oborilova. Swint clawed Hofstra to within one on a midrange jumper, but Iona reset the difference back to three points with a jumper at the 4:42 mark. A second-chance layup by Anya and a Knights three gave the Pride a two-point lead late in the quarter before Iona scored five straight points to lead by three at the end of the quarter.
The Gaels widened its lead to 10 with a 7-0 spurt to open the second quarter, but Hofstra battled back and cut the lead to two with eight Von Essen points in the pan of 1:36. Iona rallied for eight unanswered points to rebuild its double-digit lead inside the final three minutes to lead by 10 at the halftime break.
With a lead of 13 points for the Gaels following the third quarter, Iona would grow its advantage to as large as 16 points in the fourth quarter before the Pride began to chip away at the visitor's lead. A pair of Swint free throws but the margin to nine points, and they made it a six-point difference behind three baskets from the charity stripe by Anya with under five minutes remaining. Sierra DeAngelo gave Iona an eight-point advantage on a second-chance layup with 4:18 left on the clock, but Knights converted a fast break layup to make it a six-point game once again. DeAngelo knocked down two free throws at 1:28, but Swint converted a tough layup and Von Essen swished her third trey of the night to bring the Pride to within three with 72 seconds to go. Knights forced a takeaway with 33 seconds left, but Von Essen had her three-point attempt blocked and Iona drew a foul after coming down with the rebound, allowing the Gaels to ice the game with two free throws by Natalia Otkhmezuri.
DeAngelo paced Iona with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Hofstra concludes its home stretch on December 16 with a 5 p.m. tip against Farmingdale State from the Mack Sports Complex. Tickets are available at HofstraTickets.com, by calling (516) HOF-TIXX, or by visiting the Hofstra Athletics ticket office in the Mack Sports Complex lobby.
NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record against Iona is now 9-10.
-Von Essen has finished in double figures in six consecutive games and in seven of eight games this season.
-Swint now has five double-doubles in her career.
-Iona finished 44.2% from the floor (23-52) compared to Hofstra's 38.5% shooting (20-52).
