Hempstead, NY – Chloe Sterling made her long-awaited return to the hardwood, posting 11 points and five rebounds in her first appearance since February of last season, but the Hofstra women's basketball team suffered a 69-46 defeat to Fordham from inside the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra now stands at 1-6 on the season, and Fordham improves to 7-4.
 
Sandra Magolico led the Pride with 14 points and eight rebounds while also contributing two assists, two steals, and two blocks for the home side. Alarice Gooden scored nine points and finished with five rebounds, and Emma Von Essen finished with six points against the Rams.
 
The guests hit threes on back-to-back possessions to take a 6-0 lead before Hofstra got on the board through a driving layup by Sterling. The Rams stormed ahead with 10 unanswered points over a span of 4:38 until Magolico ended the run and Hofstra's scoring drought with a layup at the 1:36 mark, as Fordham led by 12 after the opening quarter. The Rams kept up the pressure on both ends against the Pride, allowing the hosts only six points in the second quarter while scoring another 16 for themselves to bring the halftime score to 32-10.
 
Hofstra came out of the halftime break firing with a 12-point unanswered run, sparked by back-to-back threes by Von Essen and Ayen Angoi and a pair of Magolico layups, bringing the Pride to within 10 with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. Fordham responded to Hofstra's run with a 6-3 run of its own to lead by 13, but a Sterling trey cut the difference to nine at the 3:04 mark. The Rams retook the momentum with 13 of the final 16 points in the third quarter to lead by 19. Fordham outscored Hofstra 18-14 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
 
Fordham had four players finish in double figures, led by Ugne Sirtautiate with 14 points, followed by Lakresha Edwards with 13 points, Alexis Black with 12, and Tia Morgan with 10.
 
Hofstra welcomes Marywood to the Mack Sports Complex for its final home non-conference game of the season on Tuesday, December 9, at 6 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-With 283 career points and 215 career three-pointers, Emma Von Essen is now 17 points away from 1,000 and 16 threes away from passing Jen Brickley (230, 1999-03) for second-most threes in a career at Hofstra.
-The Pride held Fordham to 28.6% (2-7) from beyond the arc in the second half.
-Hofstra is now 8-12 all-time against Fordham.