Hofstra Women’s Basketball Suffers Road Setback Against Florida
Pride Fall to Gators Despite Sterling’s 19-Point Effort
The Hofstra University women’s basketball team dropped a tough matchup against the University of Florida on Monday, December 2, falling 75-48. The loss extends the Pride’s losing streak to four games, bringing their season record to 2-5 as they conclude a winless road trip. Florida improved to 4-4 with the victory.
Sterling Leads Hofstra in Scoring, but Offense Struggles
Despite the loss, junior Chloe Sterling shone offensively, outperforming the Gators with a team-high 19 points. Sterling also orchestrated the Pride’s offense, dishing out three of their eight assists. Junior Emma Von Essen contributed seven points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers and a free throw, representing just over a third of Sterling’s output.
Hofstra struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm throughout the game, hampered by missed shots and a lackluster rebounding effort. Florida capitalized on these missed opportunities, controlling possession and dictating the pace. The Pride held a brief lead just 17 seconds into the game thanks to Von Essen’s three-pointer, but Florida quickly regained control. Senior Ra Shaya Kyle put up a layup with over six minutes remaining in the first quarter, igniting a Gator run that extended their lead to 29 points at its peak.
Keita Anchors Defensive Effort, Corbett Faces Production Slump
Graduate student Ramatoulaye Keita came off the bench to bolster the Pride’s defense, securing a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman LaNae’ Corbett, who had a strong start to the season, continued to face production challenges, scoring just nine points and accumulating four personal fouls. Despite the offensive struggles, Corbett remained active on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds.
Turnovers Plague Hofstra
Turnovers proved to be a significant obstacle for Hofstra, as they surrendered possession 24 times throughout the game. Freshman LaNae’ Corbett was responsible for four of these turnovers, while Sterling, graduate student Janaia Fargo, and sophomore Micaela Carter each committed three.
Florida’s Balanced Scoring Attack Proves Too Much
Florida’s offensive firepower was fueled by a balanced attack from their starters. Kyle led the way with a double-double, recording 15 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Me’Arah O’Neal followed closely behind with 14 points, while sophomore Liv McGill and freshman Liv McGill chipped in 12 points and 10 points, respectively. McGill also spearheaded the Gators’ playmaking, distributing a team-leading five of their 13 assists.
Returning Home: Pride Seek Bounce Back Against Howard
Hofstra will now return to home court for the first time since their 75-61 victory over Yale University, which also marks their last win of the season. The Pride is set to host Howard University, a newer but evenly matched opponent from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, on Sunday, December 8. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Jordan Perez
How did Chloe Sterling’s individual performance contribute to the Hofstra Pride’s efforts against Florida despite the team’s loss?
## Hofstra Women’s Basketball: A Tough Loss, but Sterling Shines
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re joined by Alex Reed, our Hofstra Women’s Basketball expert. Hofstra had a tough game against Florida on Monday. Can you tell us what happened?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. It was a challenging matchup for the Pride. They ultimately fell to Florida 75-48, extending their losing streak to four games.
**Host:** That’s certainly a disappointing result. Were there any bright spots for Hofstra?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely! Junior Chloe Sterling had a standout performance, leading the team with 19 points and showing great leadership on the court. She was a real offensive force for the Pride. Emma Von Essen also chipped in with seven points, showing some offensive spark.
**Host:** It’s always encouraging to see individual players step up. But you mentioned it was a tough matchup. What were some of the challenges Hofstra faced?
**Alex Reed:** They really struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm. Missed shots and a lackluster rebounding effort stunted their progress. Florida capitalized on those struggles, controlling the pace of the game. While Hofstra briefly led early on, Florida quickly took control and built a substantial lead.
**Host:** Sounds like a difficult game to come back from. Looking ahead, what’s next for Hofstra?
**Alex Reed:** They’ll need to regroup and focus on areas where they can improve. Rebounding and finding more consistent scoring options will be key for future success.
