Hofstra women excited to be in WNIt

Hofstra women's basketball is building a postseason resume as it makes its fourth trip to the WNIT since 2006. The Pride (19-11) will host Harvard (17-11) Thursday at 7 p.m.

"We're really excited to play in the WNIT and make a run,'' senior guard Candice Bellocchio said. "A lot of people aren't familiar with anything other than the Big Dance. But for the majority of basketball people, they realize not everybody can go to the NCAAs. The WNIT is a field with a bunch of great teams.''

Hofstra probably needed at least 20 victories to be considered for a berth in the NCAAs. The Pride lost to UNC-Wilmington in the first round of the CAA tournament.

After the WNIT bid was announced, Pride coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey quickly went to work on Harvard.

"They are a smart team, up tempo,'' she said. "Our inside game attack has got to be on full force.''

Forward Shante Evans, who is averaging 19.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, is the Pride's main offensive force. She is followed by guards Katelyn Loper (12.6 ppg), Nicole Capurso ((11.1) and Bellocchio (9.4).

Harvard is led by guards Christine Clark (15.2), Brogan Berry (12.1) and forward Victoria Lippert (11.9).

Kilburn-Steveskey said the WNIT will pay dividends.

"We understand the banners that are there and what you are a part of,'' she said of Hofstra's past WNIT appearances. "For Candice and Nicole, this will be their second postseason appearance. Every young recruitable player wants to hear that they are going to have an opportunity to play postseason, have an opportunity to put some banners on the wall and be an integral part. When you are dangling that kind of bait, that you're not just going to be in the conference tournament, we're going to have a chance to get postseason, it definitely expands your recruiting base for sure.''

Bellocchio added, "I have so many friends that once the conference tournament ends, they are done. Just to keep putting on that jersey is big for us.''

Winning at least one more game would be satisfying.

"We've been waiting to get that [20th victory] for Coach and ourselves,'' Bellocchio said. "We had some little bumps toward the end of the season but we're a great team and we proved that throughout the whole year. We're definitely getting that 20 wins -- and 20-plus.''