Hofstra women gain CAA quarterfinals

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. -- Nicole Capurso scored 22 points to lead the Hofstra women's basketball team to an 89-67 victory over William & Mary in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Thursday.

Capurso's layup with 9:01 remaining capped a 19-0 run that turned a 54-52 lead with 14:41 to play into a 73-52 advantage.

Hofstra (19-11) will face Virginia Commonwealth at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

The Rams beat Hofstra, 85-76, Feb. 13 in the only matchup this season between the teams.

William & Mary finished at 3-26, including three losses to Hofstra.

Hofstra sophomore forward Shante Evans picked up her 16th double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Evans reached 1,000 career points with 18:56 left in the second half with a three-point play that gave her 1,001 and put the Pride ahead 46-39. She has 1,007 career points.

Freshman forward Anma Onyeuku had 15 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes for Hofstra. Candice Bellocchio added 11 points and five assists.

Evans extended her free-throw streak to 22 straight in the last two games.

Hofstra fell behind 16-9 on a jumper by Taysha Pye. But the Pride chipped away, and after a three-pointer from Candace Bond with 11:28 left, Capurso scored 13 straight Hofstra points during a 13-2 run that gave the Pride a 29-22 lead with 7:01 to play.