Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior LaTisha Hatcher (Detroit, Mich.) knocked down two free-throws in the closing seconds, as the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team upended Pace, 65-64, on Tuesday night in Moore Field House. With the win the Owls remain perfect, improving to 4-0, 2-0 in Northeast-10 Conference competition.

The first half was all Southern Connecticut, as the Owls led for 18 of the opening 20 minutes of action. Hatcher led the way with nine points and five boards for the Owls. Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.) added nine points, while senior Allyson Smith (East Hampton, Conn.) dropped eight, granting SCSU a 35-25 advantage at halftime.

After the break, Southern once again took control early on in the second half. Through the first 10 minutes, the Owls maintained their lead and even extended the margin to 14 points at one point.

However, the Setters would not go away without a fight, inching closer and closer midway through the half. A lay-up by Taylor Losey sparked a 19-6 run over a span 7:20, bringing Pace to within one point. On their ensuing possession, Brittany Huggins knocked down a jumper from inside the paint, putting the Setters in front by one with 4:26 remaining in regulation.

Pace sustained its lead down the final stretch, clinging to a one point advantage with just 28 seconds left in the game. On its next possession, Pace turned the ball over courtesy of a Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn.) steal, giving the Owls the ball with 19 seconds left. 

Southern put the ball in play and worked the ball inside and out underneath the Setters' basket. Hatcher collected the ball eight feet out, turned and drew a foul with just five seconds remaining. The shooting foul sent Hatcher to the line for two free-throws.

Hatcher calmly knocked down both free-throws, propelling the Owls to a 65-64 victory against the Northeast-10 Conference's fourth selection in the preseason coaches' poll.

Hatcher finished with a team-high 21 points on 7-8 shooting, went 7-8 from the charity stripe and hauled in seven rebounds for the Owls. Smith reached double-digits with 12 points for the fourth time this season, while Shelley Pierson (Watervliet, N.Y.) added 11 points and three rebounds. Lentz netted 11 points and dished out a season-high seven assists, as Johannes registered eight points, a team-high 12 boards and two steals.

The Owls return to action on Nov. 29 with an away game against AIC. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.