Hofstra Advances, Elon Topped in WNIT

3/17/2016 10:05:30 PM

Two teams opened WNIT play on Thursday night with Hofstra topping Harvard, 76-50, while Elon was edged at Virginia Tech, 68-59. The Pride (23-8) advances to play at Villanova in the WNIT Second Round on Saturday, March 19 at 6 p.m.

Hofstra 76, Harvard 50 | Box Score

Senior Darius Faulk nearly had a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and a career-high 13 assists, and sophomore Aleana Leon added career-highs of 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead Hofstra to a 76-50 rout of Harvard in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Hofstra also got strong performances from Jakelle King-Gilchrist, who had 18 points and six rebounds, Ashunae Durant, who had 12 points, and Anjie White, who chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds.

The game was never in doubt from the onset as Hofstra closed the first period on an 18-0 run that lasted the final 6:24 to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 22-6 lead. Hofstra opened the fourth period on a 7-0 run to take its then largest lead of the game at 27, 65-38, with 8:12 to go. Harvard cut the deficit to 23, but Hofstra went back up by 27 with 4:42 to go on a layup from King-Gilchrist. Hofstra’s largest lead would be 29, 74-45, with 1:44 to play.

Hofstra finished the game shooting 53 percent from the floor, while Harvard shot 27 percent from the field.

Elon 59, Virginia Tech 68 | Box Score

The Phoenix led for more than 20 minutes of the game but was not able to hold on for a victory in the first round of the WNIT falling at Virginia Tech, 68-59, in Cassell Coliseum. Elon finishes the season at 18-13.

Sophomore Malaya Johnson finished 6-of-12 from the field to score a team-high 13 points and had six boards. Senior Essence Baucom also tallied 13 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Shay Burnett hauled down a team-high eight rebounds, scored 12 points and handed out five assists.

Elon opened up the second period on a 7-0 run, holding VT scoreless for over seven minutes to move ahead 29-20. The Hokies broke its drought at the 2:41 mark, going on to score 11 straight, including a layup as time expired, to claim a 31-29 lead at the break. Johnson went on a roll in the third period, scoring Elon's first six points of the half, to tie the game at 35-all at the 7:14 mark.

A steal and fast-break layup by Burnett returned the Phoenix to the lead, 39-38, with 4:04 left on the clock in the third. VT closed out the period on a 10-3 run to take a 48-42 advantage. With the Hokies leading by nine, 51-42, threes by Burnett and Baucom and a layup by Johnson pulled the maroon and gold within one, 51-50, with 6:11 to play. At the 4:27 mark, Lauren Brown drained a three to keep Elon within two, 55-53, before VT answered with six straight for a 61-53 advantage. The Hokies held on the for the win.