HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – North Carolina A&T women's basketball remained unbeaten in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) by remaining stingy on the defensive end.
The Aggies won their fifth straight game to improve to 10-5 overall and 4-0 in the CAA. The Pride (7-8, 1-3 CAA) lost for the third time in four games. A&T is one of two undefeated CAA teams at 4-0 after Stony Brook and Hampton lost on Sunday.
A&T held Hofstra to 36.7 percent shooting in a 63-44 victory over the Pride at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex Sunday afternoon. CAA opponents have yet to shoot 40 percent or better against the Aggies this season.
"I'm proud of our squad for completing the three-road game sweep with a dominant performance against a well-prepared Hofstra team," said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. "Our defense was very impressive today. We look forward to hosting the next three games in Corbett Sports Center."
D'Mya Tucker had 12 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, three steals and four assists on 5-for-6 shooting to record her third double-double of the season.
Jazmin Harris recorded a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds, two blocks and two assists on 7-for-16 shooting. She failed to record a double-double for the first time in four games.
The Pride challenged the Aggies in the first half. A Janaia Fargo floater at the buzzer sent Hofstra into the locker room trailing by only six, 29-23. Hofstra's Emma Von Essen then netted a three to open the second half to cut the lead to 29-26.
Tucker answered with a layup to start an 11-0 run. The run ended with five points from Bracone and four points from Harris to increase A&T's lead to 40-26 with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter. A&T's double-figure lead remained throughout the third as they went into the fourth quarter leading 46-32.
A&T remained dominant in the final stanza. A 7-0 run started by a Maleia Bracone 3-pointer and ended with two free throws from sophomore Jordyn Dorsey gave the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 23, at 61-38 with 2:51 remaining.
CAA opponents average only 51.0 points per game against A&T, as the Aggies lead the conference in scoring defense when counting conference games only.
Zyheima Swint and Brandy Thomas gave Hofstra a 4-0 lead early in the game before A&T scored 11 straight points as five different Aggies scored. Alarice Gooden hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 11-7 before A&T scored the final three points of the quarter to go into the second leading 14-7.
A&T opened the second quarter with two made field goals for its largest lead of the first half at 18-7, but the Pride fought back with a 12-3 run, culminating with a Brandy Thomas layup to cut the Aggies lead to 21-19 with 3:56 remaining in the first half. However, A&T responded by outscoring the Pride 8-2 the next 3 1/2 minutes before Fargo's jumper.
Von Essen led the Pride with nine points. Bracone added 15 points, three steals and three assists on 5-for-9 shooting from the field and 3-for-7 shooting from three.
