Hempstead, NY – The last time Hofstra and William & Mary met, it produced the highest scoring regulation final in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) history. More of the same should be expected on Thursday when the Pride and the Tribe meet for the second time at 7 p.m. in the Mack Sports Complex.
In this season's earlier matchup, Hofstra earned a surreal 100-97 victory over William & Mary as the Pride overcame a 59-50 halftime, yes halftime, deficit.
The 100-97 win by Hofstra over William & Mary on January 8 was certainly one for the ages. It easily broke Hofstra's program record for combined points in a game as the previous mark was 176 points (Hofstra 91, Delaware 85 on 2/12/06) for an overtime game and 175 (Hofstra 91, William & Mary 84 on 3/2/11) for a regulation game. It is also the highest scoring regulation final in CAA Women's Basketball history and the second-highest combined score in CAA Women's Basketball history, only eclipsed by the 218 combined points between Richmond (114) and James Madison (104) in an overtime contest on January 9, 2000.
Not surprisingly, Thursday's contest will feature the top two scoring teams in the CAA as Hofstra ranks first with 76.2 points per game, while William & Mary is second with 71.7 points per outing.
Hofstra enters the game sporting a stellar 15-5 overall record and a 7-2 conference mark. The 15-5 record is tied with the 2006-07 team for the best 20-game record in school history. In the Pride's last game on Sunday, Hofstra rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Drexel by the score of 68-61. Sophomore guard Katelyn Loper led Hofstra with 21 points and added seven rebounds, while junior forward Shante Evans chipped in with nine points and 12 rebounds. Evans saw her streak of 31 straight games in double figures come to an end with just nine points in the contest. That ranked as the fifth-longest in the nation at that point.
Evans leads Hofstra in scoring and rebounding with 17.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Loper is second with 14.1 points, while draining a team-best 48 three-pointers.
William & Mary will bring a 9-11 overall record and a 2-7 CAA ledger into the game. The Tribe has lost six of its last seven games, including an 82-71 defeat at Northeastern on Sunday. Their lone win during the last seven games was an 83-80 victory over Old Dominion on January 26. Janine Aldridge leads the Tribe with 15.6 points per game, while Taysha Pye is second with 14.2 points. Pye had 32 points in the game on January 8, while Aldridge added 22. Hofstra got 22 points and 10 rebounds from Evans and 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals from senior guard Candice Bellocchio.
Live video, audio and statistics for Thursday's game can be found on the PRIDE ZONE at GoHofstra.com. Tickets can be purchased HERE or by calling 516-HOF-TIXX.
