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Mostly Cloudy Freshmen offer bright future for Pride
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Senior guard Sam Brigham.
Courtesy Hofstra University
Fresh off a 2008-09 campaign that saw the Hofstra women’s basketball team more than triple its win total from the previous season, fourth-year head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey sees an even brighter future ahead for the program after assembling one of the best freshman classes in the nation.
The additions of Shante Evans and Candace Bond, who help comprise the 41st-rated recruiting class in the country by ESPN/HoopGurlz, combined with the return of several veterans gives Hofstra fans plenty of reason for optimism this season and beyond. Evans has already proven valuable, registering double figures in three of her first five collegiate games, including two double-doubles. “She has a lot of versatility,” Kilburn-Steveskey said of her star freshman out of West Chester, Pa. who was also recruited by Seton Hall, West Virginia, George Washington and Temple.
Evans bolsters a deep frontcourt led by senior center Jess Fuller, Hofstra’s leading scorer last season, sophomore power forward Joelle Connelly, who combined for 16 double-doubles last year, and West Virginia transfer Marie Malone, who can play either center or forward.
The Pride backcourt is quarterbacked by redshirt sophomore point guard and Staten Island native Candice Bellocchio, who broke a Hofstra record for assists with 14 in an 88-63 win at St. Francis College on Nov. 18. Another Staten Islander helping to anchor the backcourt is sophomore Nicole Capurso, who was second on the Pride in scoring last year with 10.3 points per game and first in three-pointers with 43.
Senior Sam Brigham also adds depth at the guard position and proved solid on defense a season ago by leading the Pride with 42 steals. “Her competitive nature puts her past anybody else who may have the same athleticism as she does,” Kilburn-Steveskey said of Brigham, who scored 17 points in a 69-68 loss to Clemson on Nov. 28. “That toughness on the floor is contagious.”
Kilburn-Steveskey is banking on personnel she has in the backcourt, especially with a speedy athletic Bellocchio at the point. Combined with having a nine-deep bench, these factors could enable the Pride to play a more up-tempo style that seeks easy baskets in transition. “[Bellocchio] is really good in the open court so we’re trying to have some opportunities where she is getting [in transition],” Kilburn-Steveskey said.
Hofstra’s conference, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) is wide open a year after Old Dominion’s streak of 17 straight titles came to an end, as Drexel enters this season as the defending champion. Hofstra was picked to finish seventh in the CAA preseason poll and being forecasted to be in the bottom half of the 12-team conference only serves as extra motivation for the Pride.
To prepare for a tough CAA schedule, Kilburn-Steveskey put together a challenging non-conference slate that included playing at defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Connecticut at the WBCA Classic on Nov. 27. After falling to the Huskies, 91-46, Hofstra dropped back-to-back last-second heartbreakers to Clemson and Richmond the next two days at the WBCA Classic, concluding a stretch of four games in five days to close the month of November with a 3-3 record.
Hofstra has three remaining non-conference home games: Big East Conference foe Providence on Dec. 8, Niagara on Dec. 10 and Long Island rival Stony Brook on Dec. 21, with its CAA home opener on Jan. 7 versus Towson, all starting at 7 p.m. One highlight in the Pride’s home schedule is Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. against Delaware. The Blue Hens feature 6-foot-5 Elena Delle Donne, who was the nation’s top high school scorer two years ago and initially committed to play for UConn.
There are several home promotions scheduled, including a Feb. 18 contest against George Mason at 2 p.m. that will be “Family Fun Day” with an array of games and food from various Long Island groups. The Jan. 24 game against Delaware will feature special events for girl scouts including a pre-game clinic, being able to stand on the court for the national anthem and a post-game autograph session.
For tickets call 516-HOF-TIXX.
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