UAlbany Women's Basketball Drops Non-Conference Contest to Hofstra, 62-49

Hempstead, N.Y. - Jess Fuller recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds and Shante Evans also added a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards off the bench to lead Hofstra to a 62-49 victory over UAlbany in non-conference women's basketball action on Wedensday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

Hofstra (3-0), which outrebounded its first two opponents by a margin of 21, used its size advantage inside from the opening tip to go ahead by a 4-0 score. Sparked by three-point field goals by Ebone Henry and Charity Iromuanya, the Great Danes responded by going on an 11-3 run to take a four-point lead at the 11:20 mark. The run was capped by Tabitha Makopondo, who put in a short jumper following an offensive rebound by Julie Forster.

The teams then started trading baskets, and the Pride regained the lead for the first time since the early minutes when Candice Bellocchio hit a jumper in transition. Trailing by four, the Great Danes rallied once again. Melia Basavand drilled a three-pointer from 30 feet away, and Henry added her second trifecta of the contest to knot the game at 21 before the final media timeout of the half. After Hofstra broke out to a seven-point lead, Iromunaya made two layups, including one as time expired, to close the gap to four points at the break.

Hofstra, which held a 53-36 advantage on the glass, scored six of the first eight points to start the second half and built up a double-digit lead for the first time at 42-32 when Bellocchio made a fastbreak layup at 15:43. The lead grew to 15 at 52-37 right after the midway point of the stanza when Marie Malone converted a short jumper in the paint.

UAlbany (2-2) was able to trim the deficit to single digits at the 6:21 mark when Forster completed a conventional three-point play. The freshman, who scored all nine of her points in the second half, made a running jumper through traffic followed by the ensuing free throw. However, that was the closest the visitors would come the rest of the way. A pair of free throws by Sam Brigham with 1:21 remaining sealed the final outcome.

UAlbany was led by Henry, who netted 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. She also nailed three shots from behind the arc. Forster filled up the scoresheet by contributing nine points, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Iromuanya added 11 points, while Makopondo pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.

In addition to Fuller and Evans, Hofstra was also paced by Bellocchio and Nicole Capurso. Bellocchio, who set the program's single-game record for assists earlier this year, had six helpers to go along with eight points. Capurso added nine points for the hosts.

The Pride outshot the Great Danes, 35.6 percent (21-59) to 30 percent (18-60) from the floor and 65.5 percent (19-29) to 50 percent (8-16) at the charity stripe. UAlbany outshot Hofstra from behind the arc, 35.7 percent (5-14) to 10 percent (1-10).

"Foul trouble and later the fatigue factor hurt us," said head coach Trina Patterson, whose team will host Cornell on Sunday afternoon. "Hofstra had too many interior weapons. We can work around one or two, but they had four or five big, strong


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information