Pride packs balance and potential

Posted

Hofstra women’s basketball hopes to rebound from a disappointing season that saw the Pride finish with a 14-15 record; 8-8 in the Colonial Athletic Conference. With the team’s top three scorers gone, head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey will lean heavily on key returnees, and a strong group of newcomers. 

Hofstra was selected fourth in the CAA’s preseason poll, behind defending champion James Madison, Delaware, and Drexel. The Pride is off to a 2-2 start in non-conference play, with wins coming against Fairfield and Norfolk State.

Kilburn-Steveskey, in her ninth season at Hofstra, believes it’s going to take some time for her team to get to where it wants to be. “We have talent, but it’s going to take more than talent when it comes down to winning games,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “We’re all in the same book, and we’re in the same chapter. We’re just not all on the same page yet. Everyone needs to believe in what they bring to the table, and has to bring that value night after night.”

Fresh off a solid season, 6-foot-3 forward Elo Edeferioka, who earned All-CAA rookie team honors in 2013-14, averaged 6.3 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds. The sophomore from Nigeria, who led the team in blocked shots, should be one of the conference’s top low-post performers.  

Junior Dee Thomas-Palmer, a 6-foot forward, won’t post gaudy numbers, but is extremely productive. Her ability to defend, rebound, and pass is invaluable to the team’s success. Come January, the Pride will get much-needed help in the frontcourt. Redshirt sophomore Anjie White, a 6-2 transfer who last played at George Washington where she led all freshmen in minutes played and rebounds, becomes eligible on December 21.

Maeva Dongmo, a 6-4 center from Cameroon, gives Hofstra some depth in the paint. Dongmo is a transfer from ASA College.

Hofstra has a slew of options at guard. Junior Darius Faulk returns home after two seasons at West Virginia. The Hempstead native is a key addition for numerous reasons. Kilburn-Steveskey believes Faulk brings more than just scoring, passing and defense to the Hofstra backcourt. “I think Darius can give us the leadership we need on the floor,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “People believe in her. They trust her, and respond to her.”

Freshman Ashunae Durant, a highly touted guard/forward out of New Jersey’s Bloomfield Tech, could emerge as the Pride’s go-to player. Durant, who is averaging 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds over the team’s first four games, led all scorers with 16 points in the 66-53 win over Fairfield. She was named CAA Rookie of the Week in the first week of her career.

Junior Jakelle King-Gilchrist, who appeared in 24 games as a reserve in her first season with the Pride, scored 11 points and pulled down six boards in a victory of North Carolina-Wilmington.  

Junior guard Asia Jackson averaged 7.6 points per game and buried more threes than any returnee. Krystal Luciano, who led the Pride with 98 assists and 30 steals, started 21 games as a freshman. She scored a career-high 17 points in a win over Concordia.

Hofstra expects big things from Kelly Loftus. The 5-10 sophomore is a versatile player who can light it up from the perimeter. Loftus showed her prowess with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort in a 68-66 win over Drexel last season. Freshman Olivia Askin is another threat from the field for the Pride. Freshman Alena Leon will see plenty of time off the bench. Junior Sydni Epps and Stephania Oramas add depth in the backcourt.

Kilburn-Steveskey likes her team’s balance. “We should have a good blend of inside and outside players,” she said. “They’re a very coachable group. We have some traditional post players, and a lot of talent at guard. If we can keep our poise, be resilient, and just work at getting better every day, we can be a team to be reckoned with.”