Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra women's basketball team fell behind to #17 Princeton early and couldn't recover in a 20-9 home loss to the Tigers from James M. Shuart Stadium. Hofstra slips to 5-5 with the loss, while nationally-ranked Princeton improves to 4-3.
 
Kayleigh Bender finished with a hat-trick against the Tigers, while Natalie DeMeo assisted on three Hofstra goals, and Nikki Mennella posted three points on two goals and an assist.
 
The Tigers raced out to a 5-0 lead within the first five minutes against the Pride before Mennella got Hofstra on the board at 7:57 of the first quarter. Princeton scored another two goals before Shannon Steck found the back of the net 4:09 before the end of the quarter. Hofstra closed the game to four goals late in the second quarter before the Tiger scored the final four goals before halftime to put the guests ahead 13-6 at the break.
 
A pair of goals by Bender and Mennella's second tally of the night within three minutes brought Hofstra to within five of the Tigers with 6:02 left in the third quarter, but Princeton kept Hofstra off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game while putting six consecutive goals into the back of the net.
 
Jami MacDonald was the leading scorer for Princeton with eight points on five goals and three assists, followed by three goals and four assists by Haven Dora. Amelia Hughes stopped 10 Hofstra shots in 55 minutes between the posts for the Tigers.
 
Hofstra resumes its CAA schedule with a road clash against Campbell on March 22 at 12 p.m.
 
 
NOTES:
-With three points, Mennella passes Kimberly Hillier (215, 2004-07) for fourth-most in program history. Her two goals puts her one shy of tying and two away from passing Corrine Gandolfi (148, 2007-10) for fourth-most in Hofstra women's lacrosse history.
-This was the ninth hat-trick of Bender's career.
-Luchianna Cardello made three saves against Princeton.
-Hofstra is now 0-10 against Princeton all-time.