BALANCED ATTACK PROPELS HOFSTRA OVER WILLIAM AND MARY, 66-50

BALANCED ATTACK PROPELS HOFSTRA OVER WILLIAM AND MARY, 66-50

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HARRISONBURG, Va. (March 11, 2010) - Five players scored in double figures as sixth-seeded Hofstra took down #11 William & Mary, 66-50, in the final opening round game of the 2010 Virginia 529 College Savings Plan CAA Women's Basketball Championship.

The Pride (19-12) advance to tomorrow's 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal against third-seeded VCU, while the Tribe ends their season with a 12-18 mark.

Hofstra was led by freshman forward Shante Evans (West Chester, Pa.), who recorded her league leading 14th double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and senior guard Sam Brigham (Simsbury, Conn.), who poured in a game-high 15 points. Senior Jess Fuller (Queens, N.Y.), sophomore Nicole Capurso (Staten Island, N.Y.) and sophomore Marie Malone (Virginia Beach, Va.) also chipped in double figures.

The Tribe were led by freshman forward Emily Correal (Venetia, Pa.) and sophomore guard Taysha Pye (Bronx, N.Y.) who each tallied a team-high 11 points. Senior forward Tiffany Benson (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior guard Lindsey Moller (Longmont, Colo.) totaled 10 points each.

The Pride shot 43 percent for the game, including 58 percent in the second half. They also held a 44-35 rebounding advantage, despite being outrebounded 19-13 on the offensive glass. The Tribe was limited to just 33 percent shooting and missed 13 of the 21 attempts from the free throw line.

Both squads kept it close in the first half, with five ties and nine lead changes in the opening 20 minutes.

Down 8-7 with 14:00 left in the first, the Pride went on a 5-0 run over the next 49 seconds, capped off by a Malone layup, to take a 12-8 lead, their largest lead of the half. The Tribe and Pride exchanged small runs, but Hofstra ultimately ended on a 5-0 run in the final three minutes to take a 25-22 lead into the locker room.

The second half tempo was set high by both teams, but leading 28-25 with 18:26 remaining in regulation, Hofstra opened up its lead to double digits, going on a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to take a 37-27 lead.

William & Mary trimmed the lead to five, 45-40, on a Correal jumper with 11:20 remaining, but that would be as close as the Tribe would get.

Foul trouble midway through the second frame allowed Hofstra to go up again by double digits and led by as much as 17, 63-46 with a few minutes to play.