WASHINGTON, D.C. - A 17-0 run to open the second half powered top-seeded Charleston to a 68-56 victory over No. 10 Hofstra in the Credit Union 1 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship game on Sunday afternoon at CareFirst Arena.
It was the first CAA title for the Cougars (27-5), who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship for the first time. Hofstra (11-22), which knocked off No. 7 Towson, No. 2 Campbell and No. 3 Drexel to become the first No. 10 seed to ever reach the finals, closed the year with an 11-22 mark.
Taryn Barbot, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, poured in a game-high 23 points. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Taylor Barbot, who contributed 16 points and eight assists, and Grace Ezebilo, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Emma Von Essen came off the bench to tally a team-best 13 points for Hofstra, while Chloe Sterling added 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and Alarice Gooden scored 11 points. All three Pride standouts also made the all-tournament squad.
Charleston trailed 33-30 at the half but clicked on all cylinders to begin the third quarter. Taryn and Taylor Barbot combined for 10 of the Cougars’ first 12 points of the second half to give their squad a 10-point lead and a Sophia Tougas trey capped the run to put Charleston ahead, 47-33, with 4:46 left in the quarter.
Trailing by 11 entering the final frame, Hofstra got as close as nine (63-54) on a Sterling layup with 3:15 to go. However, a trey by the Cougars’ Jami Hill stopped the rally and secured the title for Charleston.
The teams traded buckets through much of the first quarter before Charleston put together an 11-0 run behind a pair of treys from Taryn Barbot and a jumper from Taylor Barbot to go up 18-8. Hofstra’s Gooden knocked down a three to pull the Pride within 18-11 at the end of the opening period.
Charleston pushed its advantage to nine early in the second quarter, but the Pride reeled off nine consecutive points as Gooden hit a pair of jumpers, Nevaeh Brown converted a three-point play and Sterling banked in a jumper to tie the contest at 20-20. Hofstra put together a 7-0 spurt late in the period and took a five-point lead on a Brown bucket before Taylor Barbot’s jumper at the buzzer cut Hofstra’s advantage to 33-30 at the half.
CAA All-Tournament Team
- Taryn Barbot, Charleston
- Taylor Barbot, Charleston
- Grace Ezebilo, Charleston
- Alarice Gooden, Hofstra
- Chloe Sterling, Hofstra
- Emma Von Essen, Hofstra