Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Allyson Smith (East Hampton, Conn.) knocked down a lay-up in the closing seconds on Saturday afternoon to lift the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team over Saint Rose, 69-67, in overtime at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium in Albany, N.Y. With the win, the Owls improved to 12-14, 9-12 in the conference and clinched a spot in the 2010 Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.

Needing a win or a Saint Anselm loss, the Owls had quite a bit of pressure heading into this one. However from the opening whistle, Southern made it clear that it would not go down easy on the road against the conference's fifth ranked team.

Junior Shelley Pierson (Watervliet, N.Y.) led the way for the Owls in the opening stanza. Pierson collected 12 points and nine rebounds in a back and forth half that featured four tie scores and five lead changes. Senior Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn.) added eight points and four rebounds, as the Owls carried a mere three point lead into the locker rooms at the break.

After the intermission, the Golden Knights raced out to a 16-5 run to regain the lead. Ashley Rath capped off the run with a short jumper at the 14:02 mark, granting Saint Rose its largest lead of the game at eight points.

However, SCSU battled back with a 21-10 run over the next nine minutes, putting the visiting Owls back in front, 56-53, with five minutes to play. In the closing minutes, the two team's trade baskets until Pierson knocked down a pair of free-throws at the 1:23 mark. With the score knotted up at 59 apiece at the end of regulation, extra time would be needed to decide the match.

Pierson, Johannes and Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.) each recorded baskets early on in the extra period, leaving the score tied up at 67-67. On their ensuing possession, Smith connected on a lay-up with just 19 seconds left, which proved to be the difference as Saint Rose was unable to score on its final possessions.

Johannes finished with a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds for the Owls. Pierson recorded another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Smith tossed in 14 points and grabbed six boards in the victory. Lentz added 10 points and Alex Fiola (Fall River, Mass.) poured in eight of her own.

The Owls return to action on Feb. 24 with a home game against Assumption. Southern will honor its seniors prior to the contest, with the start of the game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Moore Field House.