CHARLESTON, S.C. – For a full three quarters, the College of Charleston women's basketball program (5-9; 0-3 vs. CAA) looked poised to upset the visiting Hofstra Pride (11-3; 2-1 vs. CAA). Yet it was not to be, as the Pride rallied late and ultimately escaped with a 62-58 win.

CofC led the game for a combined 28 minutes, 12 seconds, but could never quite shake Hofstra and take a comfortable lead, only pushing the lead as high as nine points. The Pride hung around, and finally managed to capture the momentum and take the lead from the Cougars in the final seven minutes of the game. From there, the Cougars would give chase, even tying the game with 3:31 remaining, but couldn't retake what they'd lost.

“It's disappointing to have a lead for so long in a game,” head coach Candice M. Jackson said. “Just a few key baskets undid the momentum we had worked so hard to build. To give up a lead like that, it hurts.”

Jackie Luna-Castro played an inspired game for the Cougars and set the tempo early, draining 12 first-half points en route to a career-high 22-point night on 10-of-18 shooting.

Breanna Bolden meanwhile had her second and the team's third double-double of the season, with 13 points, 12 boards, five assists and three steals. She raised her career-steal-total to 183, which moves her past Jade Hughes (2005-10) into sole possession of fourth place on the CofC Career Steals List in the school's Division I era.

“Both Bre and Jackie put in a lot of work, and it certainly showed today,” Jackson said. “I think it's time for other people to step up and join them.”

The Cougars enjoyed success under the glass, winning the battle of the boards 45-36. They also did an effective job distributing the ball with 16 assists as a team, well above their average of 13.8 APG. However, the Cougars were ultimately done in by poor shooting, going 25-of-66 from the field (37.9%), 3-of-16 from deep (18.8%), and 5-of-13 from the charity stripe (38.5%).

The College will have the week off to regroup, but will have the luxury of remaining at home for a Friday-night meeting with the Delaware Blue Hens (7-7; 2-1 vs. CAA). Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in TD Arena.