WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary women's basketball team battled to the buzzer and then some, falling to Hofstra 80-77 in double overtime at Kaplan Arena in the regular season finale on Wednesday night. W&M had five players in double-figures, in a game that featured six lead changes and seven ties. With the loss, the Tribe drops to 8-19, 5-11 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while Hofstra improves 13-14, 8-8 in CAA action.
Senior Kaitlyn Mathieu finished the game with a career and game-high 23 points, adding 12 rebounds, a career-high four blocks, and one steal. It was the 11th double-double of her career. Freshman Marlena Tremba scored 14 points, grabbed three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Junior Jazmen Boone chipped in 12 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Classmate Kyla Kerstetter and freshman Latrice Hunter each had 10 points apiece.
The game, which was back and forth throughout, opened with a 12-2 Hofstra run. A jumper by Annie Payton started the scoring, followed by a layup from Boone. The Pride scored the next 10 points on baskets from Elo Edeferioka, Payton (twice), Anma Onyeuku, and Sydni Epps.
Down by eight points, the Tribe used 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the first half. A layup from Tremba sparked the run, followed by a pair of free throws from Hunter, and a 3-pointer from Mathieu, cutting the Pride lead to one. After a Hofstra basket, Kerstetter hit a free throw, Boone added a layup, and Tremba buried a triple, giving the Tribe a 26-22 lead.
Hofstra closed the first half on a 12-3 run, building a 34-29 halftime advantage. Both teams shot the ball well in the first half. Hofstra shot 40.5-percent (15-of-37) from the field, while the Tribe shot 47.6-percent (10-of-21).
William and Mary used an 8-0 run in the early portion of the second half to regain a four point advantage. A pair of free throws from Boone started the rally and was matched by a layup from freshman Alexis Hofstaedter, tying the game. Hofstaedter followed with a jumper and a lay-in by Mathieu gave the Tribe a 49-45 advantage with 13:33 to play.
The Tribe built its largest lead of second half at six points thanks to a mini 4-0 run. Buckets from Mathieu and Kerstetter lifted the Tribe to a 53-47 advantage with 11:27 to play.
Hofstra came roaring back with an 8-0 run to give them a three-point lead. Six of the eight points in the run came from Onyeuku as the Pride built a 56-53 lead.
William and Mary took a pair of three-point leads down the stretch, but each time the Pride had the answer. Mathieu and the Tribe had the final shot, but it fell just short sending the game to overtime.
The College opened the first overtime on a 9-0 run, which was matched by Hofstra in the second half of the first overtime. Mathieu scored the first four points of overtime, followed by a traditional three-point play from Hunter. A pair of Tremba free throws ended the run. Again, Hofstra fought back and Payton hit two triples to bring the score to a three points. Three free throws from Onyeuku and Loftus tied the score at 71. Sophomore Brooke Stewart had a shot at a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime, but it was off of the front of the rim.
Hofstra opened the second overtime with a three-point play from Onyeuku and the Tribe could never recover. William and Mary cut the score to a one-point game three times, but couldn't get over the mark, missing a 3-pointer as time expired.
Payton and Onyeuku who each chipped in 22 points apiece led the Pride. Krystal Luciano was also in double-figures with 10 points for Hofstra.
For the 18th time this season William and Mary forced (21) more turnovers then they committed (20). The Tribe forced 12 steals led by three apiece from Boone and Tremba.
The College will be the No. 8 seed in the upcoming CAA Women's Basketball Championship at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. The Tribe squares off against UNCW on Thursday, March 13 at 2 p.m.
