Hofstra Heads To First Championship Final

3/14/2015 5:32:19 PM

Kelly McCarthy

BOXSCORE | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (March 14, 2015) – Third-seeded Hofstra University edged seventh-seeded University of Delaware, 45-42, in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Basketball Championship semifinals. Hofstra (20-11) will make its first-ever appearance in the CAA Championship final and take on top-seeded James Madison on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The game will be aired live on Comcast SportsNet.

Sophomore Elo Edeferioka had her seventh double-double of the season for the Pride, finishing with 12 points and a tournament-high 16 rebounds, 11 of which came in the first half. Edeferioka also had four blocks and three steals in 33 minutes of play. Krystal Luciano added eight points while Darius Faulk chipped in with six points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Hofstra came out hot, going a 9-2 run over the first five minutes of the game. Delaware closed the gap to 13-9 on a jumper by Hannah Jardine at 10:45. Jardine’s basket would be the last from the floor for the Blue Hens for the next seven minutes as they went cold. Hofstra took advantage using a 12-1 run to push its lead to 25-10 during that stretch.

Delaware’s scoring drought ended at 2:43 on a contested lay-up by Joy Caracciolo, who then sank the ensuring free throw to complete the three-point play at 2:43. The two teams traded baskets to end the half as Hofstra took a 27-16 lead into the break.

Roles reversed at the start of the second half as Delaware opened things up with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 29-24. The Blue Hens continued to chip away at the lead, pulling within 33-30 on a jumper by Erika Brown at the 12:05 mark.

Hofstra pushed its lead back up to as much as nine points throughout the half, but Delaware continued to chip away. With 2:48 remaining, Courtni Green nailed a three-pointer to pull the Blue Hens within 45-42. That’s the way the game ended, however, as Hofstra held on for the win.

Green finished with a game-high 14 points for Delaware which finished the year at 15-17. Brown was also in double figures, recording 10 points.