Hofstra Tops Nova to Advance in WNIT
BOX SCORE
VILLANOVA, Pa. (March 19, 2016) -- Senior
Jakelle King-Gilchrist knocked down a pair of clutch fourth-quarter three-pointers and scored a career-high 22 points to lead Hofstra to an 82-74 road victory over Villanova in the Women's National Invitation Tournament second round on Saturday night at the Pavilion.
The Pride (24-8) will play the winner of the Rutgers-Virginia game in the third round in a location and time to be determined when that game is played tomorrow at 2 p.m.
King-Gilchrist notched her first career 20-point game to put Hofstra in the third round for the first time since 2007. That year's squad made it to the quarterfinals, which was the program's best-ever finish. Hofstra’s 24 victories is now just two behind that 2006-07squad for the most in the program’s Division I era.
Four other Hofstra players finished in double figures with sophomore
Aleana Leon and senior
Kelly Loftus both scoring 11 points. Junior forward
Anjie White contributed 14 points and seven rebounds and senior guard
Darius Faulk came close to a triple-double for the second straight game with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Hofstra, which trailed by as much as three in the third quarter, broke a 50-all deadlock when Faulk knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:17 left in the period. The Pride would hold on to the lead for the rest of the game, getting a spark when White made a fast-break layup for a 57-54 lead in the fourth.
King-Gilchrist then buried a three-pointer in front of Hofstra's bench for 60-56 lead and followed a missed Villanova three-pointer by knocking down another long-range shot on Hofstra's next possession for a seven-point lead. Loftus' driving left-handed bank shot made it 65-56 with 5:08 left.
King-Gilchrist completed a three-point play to make 72-60 with 3:01 left to clinch the decision. She bested her previous career high of 19 set versus Charleston on Jan. 4, 2015. It was the 16th time a Hofstra player recorded a 20-point game. King-Gilchrist is the sixth different Hofstra player to reach that mark this season.