Dukes look for big win against Hofstra

JMU wraps up its season series with Hofstra University Friday when it hosts the Pride at the Convocation Center.

The Dukes, coming off a 56-52 victory over the George Mason University Patriots Sunday, enter the game 12-8 overall and 5-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Hofstra comes in at 11-9 and 6-5.

"It think it’s a big game for various reasons," JMU coach Kenny Brooks said. "One, it’s the next game and you take things one game at a time. It also helps position us for the conference tournament."

With seven games left on their regular season schedule, the Dukes are in fifth place in the CAA, one spot behind the Pride. JMU has been plagued by inconsistency as of late. After winning seven in a row early in the season, the Dukes are 5-7 since Dec. 29.

Still, Brooks said his team isn’t too far from the conference elite.

"If you look at it, we’re not far off," Brooks said. "We’ve had stretches in games where were very good and then lulls where we can’t hit shots. I don’t think we’re very far."

Brooks has a point — the Dukes have gone into overtime twice this season, losing both games. Five of JMU’s games this season have been decided by two points or less.

One of those games was a 55-54 loss at the hands of the Pride Jan. 20 in Hempstead, N.Y.

"They’re one game up on us," Brooks said. "We felt like we let one slip away up there, so it’s a bit of a redemption game."

In letting things slip away, the Dukes allowed Hofstra center Vanessa Gidden her then-fourth double-double of the season. Gidden finished with a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds.

"She was huge," Brooks said of Gidden. "She came down and dominated us."

So did the flu bug, which limited sophomore forward Meredith Alexis to two points and four rebounds that night. Alexis played eight minutes. Brooks said having her healthy will play a factor Friday.

"It will be a little different," Brooks said. "We have to be physical and keep Gidden away from the basket. She’s effective in the low post and we have to keep her off the boards, too."

As far as his team’s health is concerned, Brooks said the flu bug and injuries have been conquered for now.

"Aside from the typical nicks, we’re about as healthy as we’ve been all year," Brooks said.

That includes sophomore point guard Andrea Benvenuto, who missed seven games earlier this season due to a stress fracture in her foot.

"She’s progressing nicely," Brooks said. "No pain in the foot. I’d say she’s about 95 percent, and the last game she played was her best of the season."

In that game, Benvenuto scored eight points and had six assists. She played 31 minutes.

JMU and Hofstra tip off at 7 p.m.