“When they announced it, all I saw was my ugly face on the Jumbotron and I thought, ‘why is my mug up there, it is distracting,’” Hoover said. “Then I heard the announcement.”
Hoover’s 3-pointer from the top of the key moved her past Stephanie Miller (1999-2004) to the top of the school’s all-time career made three pointers list with 222.
“My dad knows all that stuff,” Hoover said with a laugh, “but he knows I’m not going to ask about something like that.”
Hoover finished with 17 points to raise her career total to 1,689 – 143 behind former teammate Justine Raterman for fourth on Dayton’s all-time scoring list.
“It is a great honor,” Hoover said. … I didn’t know at all, but it is a team reward because I don’t get my shots without my team.”
. “She is a tough kid who is passionate and plays for the love of the game,” said Dayton coach Jim Jabir, whose team improved to 19-5 overall and 10-2 in the Atlantic 10. “There has never been any drama or issues with her and we are fortunate to have her.”
Hoover’s record-breaking 3-pointer gave the Flyers a 36-18 lead that they turned into a 44-32 advantage at the break.
The Flyers hit 68 percent of their shots from the floor in the first half while holding Saint Joseph’s (8-16, 4-8) to a 9-of-27 .
“I thought we did some really good things,” Jabir said. “I liked the way we ran our offense and we held them in the 30’s (34 percent) from the floor for the game which was good defensively. We just have to keep building.”
Dayton’s lead was never in doubt in the second half, growing as large as 24, 78-54, on two of freshman Jenna Burdette’s career-high 14 points. Burdette was near perfect on the day, hitting all five shots from the floor, including her lone 3 attempt, and was 3 for 4 from the free throw line.
“Coach Jabir has been on me about being more aggressive,” said Burdette, who hit double figures for second straight game. “The goal is double digits and that comes from being more aggressive and taking smarter shots. Everyone always says the college game is bigger, faster and stronger than high school, but it is true. You have to find a groove.”
Senior Ally Malott added 15 as 10 of the 11 Flyers who saw action scored. Malott, Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova and Hoover also grabbed seven rebounds each.
Sarah Fairbanks led Saint Joseph’s with 22 with Natasha Cloud adding 21 and Ciara Andrews 13.
After a midweek game at Fordham, Dayton returns home Sunday for Senior Day agaisnt LaSalle. The Flyers close out the home schedule Feb. 28 when they host UMass.
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