STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook women's basketball team successfully defended its home court against Hofstra on Tuesday night at the Island Federal Credit Union Arena. Hot shooting early in the game and a tough defensive effort helped guide the Seawolves to a 77-49 victory over the Pride.
 
The team scored the first 10 points of the contest and never looked back as four Seawolves notched double-digit figures to lead the offensive attack. Senior G Jerell Matthews (Chicago, Ill.) led the squad with 20 points and fellow senior G Shania Johnson (Frederick, Md.) recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists on the evening.

Defensively, Stony Brook put on a clinic in the third quarter, limiting Hofstra to just seven points. The Pride would go on an 8-0 run in the final period to outscore the Seawolves, 19-16, but it wasn't enough to overcome its deficit.
 
McCOMBS REACTION
"I thought it was a total team effort and I think it really started with our defense. We set the tone early with our defense and we just really never let up and that was our focus coming into the game. It's always our focus against our opponents, so I think we were able to do that early and just sort of take them out of the game."

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stony Brook came out of the gate running, putting up a 29-point first quarter following its 10-0 run to open up play at home.
• The Seawolves also finished strong with its largest lead of the game coming with just 1:04 remaining in the contest following a jumper by freshman G Anastasia Warren (Atlanta, Ga.).
• Things evened out a bit in the second quarter as Stony Brook slightly out-scored the Pride, 13-12, but still headed into halftime with an impressive 42-23 lead.
• Hofstra ran into shooting trouble in the third period as Stony Brook's defense completely took over. The Pride got its first points with just under three minutes to go to tally seven.
• To kick-off the final quarter, Hofstra went on its own 8-0 run, but the Seawolves responded with seven-consecutive points with just five minutes left to play.
   

NOTES

• Along with Matthews and Johnson, two other players notched double-digit figures. Warren was second on the team with 16 points and sophomore F India Pagan (New London, Conn.) added in 10 as well.
• Matthews notched seven total field goals, including four three-point baskets, and was a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line in her season-best effort. Pagan and Warren also contributed season-highs in points.
• The Seawolves outrebounded Hofstra 49-35, grabbing 16 offensive and 33 defensive boards.
• Junior F Oksana Gouchie-Provencher (Markham, Ontario) blocked three shots and had one steal. Matthews and sophomore G/F Jonae Cox (Portsmouth, Va.) also recorded one steal each.
• Freshman G Courtney Furr (Elkridge, M.d.) as well as freshman G/F Laniya Miller (Piscataway, N.J.) saw their first-collegiate action. Miller brought down one defensive rebound in her debut.
• This is the second year in a row that Stony Brook has won its home-opener. Last year, the Seawolves took down Manhattan, 74-59, at the Island Federal Credit Union Arena to start the 2017-18 season.
• Overall, the team went 33-for-65 (50.8 percent) including 66.7 percent shooting in the third period. Also in the third, the squad nailed three shots from behind the arc out of five attempts.
• Hofstra shot just 18-of-66 (27.3 percent) from the floor while nailing nine of 11 free throw attempts.
   

UP NEXT
Stony Brook hits the road this Saturday, Nov. 17 to take on Manhattan. Tip-off against the Jaspers is set for 2 p.m.