The Hofstra Pride needed one more basket to win, down 79-78 to the Army Black Knights with seven seconds remaining in the game. The Pride looked towards All-CAA Preseason First Team honoree Jaylen Hines to get the job done.
Preparing for the inbound, Hines created space from her defender by using the screen set by Shawn Mills. She caught a perfect inbound throw from Jasyni Knight and capitalized by baking her shot off the glass– Hofstra got its basket.
The Pride began their 2020-21 season with the 81-78 victory over the Black Knights Wednesday afternoon at West Point, NY.
Both teams traded several ties and five lead changes throughout the game, primarily in the second half. Alisa Fallon wiped away the Pride’s second half double-digit lead after sinking a 3-pointer, putting the Black Knights ahead 69-67 with 6:51 left in the game. Fallon led the contest with 23 points, including seven free-throws two of Army’s eight 3-pointers.
Later, Mills’ layup in the paint gave Hofstra the 77-76 lead with 16 seconds remaining. Once again, Fallon responded with a score that pushed Army ahead– this time by banking a layup off the glass.
Hofstra knocked down 43 percent of its 81 shot attempts for the game. The Pride held their opponents to 51 shot attempts by forcing 21 turnovers– which they converted into 28 points.
Jakayla Brown kicked off the scoring in the second quarter with a layup following a steal from Knight, putting the Hofstra team ahead 25-15. Playing in front of a limited capacity crowd did not affect the Hofstra shooters as they knocked down nearly half of their shots in the first half.
Five of the seven Hofstra players who took the court finished the afternoon with double-digits in scoring. The duo of Brown and Knight led the way scoring 17 points each, followed by Jaala Henry with 15. Henry also grabbed a team high nine rebounds and capped off the day by sinking two free throws that put Hofstra up 81-78.
The Black Knights kept the game close by getting to the line, despite attempting 10 shots to the Pride’s 21 in the second quarter. Natalie Stalkas sank the Army team’s eighth free throw of the second, cutting the deficit to 43-35. The team went 18-24 from the charity stripe in the game.
Knight broke the 15-all first quarter tie with a midrange jumper. The score sparked a ten-point run which gave the Pride a lead they would carry through most of the contest. The Hofstra team earned its fifth consecutive season opener victory.
Both Hofstra basketball programs season openers were scheduled for today, but the men’s game was canceled due to a positive COVID test involving the Monmouth. The men’s team will begin their season against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday, November 29 at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the women’s team will face the Pittsburgh Panthers this Sunday at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
