Hempstead, NY – Despite a season-high 27 points from Brandy Thomas, Stony Brook outscored Hofstra 19-4 in the fourth quarter to win, 67-55, in the first Colonial Athletic Association game of 2023 from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Hofstra slips to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Stony Brook moves to 8-5 and 2-0 in the CAA following today’s win.
Thomas scored 27 points on 10-18 shooting and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line, and she added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the Pride. Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes blocked a career-high five Stony Brook shots while adding five points. Sorelle Ineza finished with seven points for the Pride.
After trading points for the first three minutes of the opening quarter, Hofstra pulled ahead by one off a Thomas layup at 6:43, and a layup from Zyheima Swint put the Pride ahead 8-5 at the 5:32 mark. After another Thomas basket and an Alarice Gooden free throw, the Seawolves sunk a three points to pull ahead by two with 51 seconds left. The lead didn’t last, however, as an Ineza step-back jumper with 17 seconds left put the score at 13-13 after one quarter of play.
The Seawolves scored the first four points of the second quarter to pull out to a four-point lead. Thomas scored the next eight points to give Hofstra a 24-19 lead going into the media timeout at 4:43. Stony Brook experienced a lengthy run of their own, outscoring Hofstra 7-2 over a 2:27 period to tie the score at 26-26 before Ineza scored a jumper in the paint at 2:16. Stony Brook scored six unanswered points to lead, 32-28, with 1:05 left in the half. Hofstra and Stony Brook each shot two successful free throws to close out the second quarter, with Stony Brook leading by four.
Stony Brook scored five of the first seven points of the third quarter to lead by seven at the 7:40 mark, before an Emma Von Essen jumper at 6:34 keyed a 14-3 Hofstra run lasting nearly five minutes, giving Hofstra a six-point lead with 1:55 remaining in the quarter. Stony Brook scored four of the final seven points in the quarter, putting the score at 51-48 in favor of the Pride.
The Seawolves opened the fourth quarter with seven straight points to lead by four at 6:58. A pair of Thomas free throws brought the Pride to within two, but Stony Brook rattled off eight unanswered points to put the game out of reach for the home side. Stony Brook closed out the game with four straight points, all off free throws.
Sherese Pittman led Stony Brook with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Anastasia Warren posted 16 points for the Seawolves.
Up next for the Pride is a visit from Elon on Friday, January 6. Tip-off against the Phoenix is at 7 p.m. For Hofstra women’s basketball tickets, visit HofstraTickets.com, call (516) HOF-TIXX, or visit the Hofstra Athletics ticket office inside the Mack Sports Complex during normal business hours.
NOTES:
-The five blocks by Ross-Barnes are the most since Mikiyah Croskey blocked five against Northeastern on March 3, 2018.
-Thomas’ 27 points are the most by a Hofstra player since JaKayla Brown scored 28 against Towson in the CAA Championship Quarterfinals on March 11, 2021.
-The Pride outshot Stony Brook, 39.6% to 34.4%.
-Hofstra is now 7-6 all-time versus Stony Brook. The Seawolves have won the last five meetings.
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