Box Score



NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior Moni Smith-Ocran (Bronx, N.Y.) had 16 points and 15 rebounds as the No.21 Southern Connecticut State University (2-1)  women's basketball team beat Saint Thomas Aquinas (1-2), 63-54, on Saturday in a non-conference game at Moore Field House.

Senior Camille Fantini (Andover, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points, including eight first half points, while pulling down 10 rebounds in the win.

Southern Connecticut started the game hot, with a 6-0 run including back to back layups by Smith-Ocran. The Owls would hold the lead the majority of the first half until just under seven minutes to go, the Spartans would take the lead, 21-19, after an Owl turnover and a three pointer by Alexis Breheny.

After the two teams traded baskets, Southern would answer with a 6-0 run capped off by a Jackie Beathea (Annadale, Va.) jumper to give SCSU a 29-26 lead with just over two minutes to go in the half. The Spartans would have an answer themselves, ending the half with five straight points to cut the Owls lead to one. The teams would go into half-time with a score of 29-28 in favor of Southern.

The Owls would hold the lead in the second half and never relinquish it to Saint Thomas Aquinas. SCSU would take its biggest lead with just under 12 minutes to play when they went on a 10-0 run, where five different Owls came away with buckets.

The Spartans would only get as close as six, but never could cut into the Owls lead anymore. Southern Connecticut would outscore the Spartans 34-26 in the second half and hold on to win by a final of 63-54.

SCSU held Saint Thomas Aquinas to 34 percent shooting from the field, while they shot 45 percent.

Beathea ended the game with nine points to go along with nine rebounds. Sophomore Mariah Hankton (Upper Marlboro, Md.) also had nine points in the win.

The Owls improve to 2-1 on the season and will be back in action Tuesday when they welcome Assumption to Moore Field House at 5:30 p.m.