Box Score
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior forward
Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn.) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team to a 69-65 win over LeMoyne College in Northeast-10 Conference action on Wednesday night at Moore Field House. The Owls moved back over the .500 mark with the win, improving to 11-10, 8-8 in conference play.
Southern quickly seized the upper hand as Johannes and the Owls raced out to a 15-5 advantage through the first seven minutes of action. Freshman
Camille Fantini (Andover, Mass.) ignited the run with a three-pointer, followed by field goals from Johannes,
Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.),
Shelley Pierson (Watervliet, N.Y.) and
Alex Fiola (Fall River, Mass.)
The offense continued to click, as the Owls extended their lead to 21 after a 23-12 run through the next 10 minutes of play. Despite a 6-0 run from the visiting Dolphins to close out the half, Southern carried a 38-23 advantage into half time.
After two quick baskets from
LaTisha Hatcher (Detroit, Mich.) and Fantini to start the second half, the Dolphins' offense began to heat up. LeMoyne sparked a 15-2 run over a five minute span that cut its deficit to just six points.
The teams exchanged field goals for a few minutes, when Muffy Sadler and the Dolphins struck again. A Sadler jumper capped off a 10-1 run over the next five minutes that tied the game up at 59-59. Furthermore, on their next possession, the Dolphins grabbed the lead with a jumper from Emily Baly.
However, a lay-up by Lentz and a clutch three-pointer from senior
Allyson Smith (East Hampton, Conn.) put the Owls in front by three with 1:54 left in regulation. Southern made six consecutive stops and connected on 5-of-6 free-throw attempts en route to its eighth win at Moore Field House this season.
Johannes finished with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and hauled in a team-high seven rebounds for the Owls. Lentz and Smith each tossed in 11 points, while Pierson added 10 of her own.
The Owls return to action on Feb. 6 with an away game against New Haven. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Charger Gymnasium.
