Hofstra women's basketball in-practice blog

The Hofstra women's basketball is getting set to take to the Mack Sports Complex floor for its first official practice of the 2009/2010 season. With seven of its top nine scorers returning combined with a heralded recruiting class ranked 41st-best by ESPN/HoopGurlz, there is reason for Hofstra fans to be optimistic as the Pride begin this new campaign. With Hofstra facing a rigorous non-conference schedule that includes defending national champion Connecticut and ACC power Clemson, head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey should be working her players extra hard starting this evening. Stay tuned to "Inside the Pride" and refresh your browser for constant updates of this debut Hofstra women's basketball practice of the 2009/2010 season.



5:01- After a pre-practice shoot around the players huddled around Coach Kilburn-Steveskey for a pep talk where she preached the importance of defense and communication.

5:06- Players working on two-on two offensive drill with shot clock winding down. Coach Kilburn-Steveskey says she wants to see better footwork during offensive sets. .

5:10- Sam Brigham and Asia Jenkins just battled hard for a lose ball out of bounds

5:17- Assistant coach Faisal Khan is conducting full court one-one-one drills with offensive players ziz zagging to half court before going to the paint for a lay-up.

5:20- Quick water break

5:30- Just re-powered laptop. Players have been working hard on boxing out the last few minutes.

5:39- Another water break. Should point out that the players are in their brand new blue and gold practice jerseys with numbers placed in an oval-shaped circle.

5:47- Coach Kilburn-Steveskey emphasizes that players go full-speed during defensive drill and to treat it like it is a game situation.

5:53- Players now shooting free throws and on each miss entire team has to run the length of the court and back.

5:57- Coach Kliburn-Steveskey points out to players during free throw drill that team was last in the Colonial Athletic Association last year from the charity stripe.

6:01- Team now doing the weave offense at half court.

6:06- During weave drill Coach Kilburn-Steveskey tells team that if they don't communicate on the court "it is going to be a long, long season."

6:11- Coach Kilburn-Steveskey chatted with two fans viewing the practice.

6:18- Team working on transition offense with Asia Jenkins just going coast-to-coast for a lay-up.

6:29- Coach Khan is using playing the sole defender in a three on-one drill.

6:35- Coach Kilburn-Steveskey tells team that missed rebounds keep her up at night.

6:44- Team getting ready to work on situational offense with three seconds left and ball out of bounds near mid court. Coach Kilburn-Steveskey huddles to set up offense and Coach Khan strategize with defense.

6:46- Asia Jenkins just nailed baseline jumper at buzzer during three seconds situational offense drill.

6:50- The situational offensive drill now has six seconds on the clock and the ball near mid court

6:55- Players have split up into three's at four baskets for shooting drills with each counting how many are made in 30 seconds.

6:57- The Hofstra men's basketball players have started to arrive for their practice scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

7:04- Practice concludes after Coach Kilburn-Steveskey addresses team at half court and players bring in hands and yell "together."

7:07- The men's basketball team has taken the floor for a shoot around and will start their practice in about 23 minutes. Check back into Inside the Pride for a separate in-practice blog on their practice.