Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn - Moni Smith-Ocran's (Bronx, N.Y.) go ahead lay-up with 24 seconds left in the game sealed the win for the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team. The Owls defeated the Setters 48-47. Pace had an opportunity to go ahead but Brittany Shields stepped out of bounds trying to receive the inbounds pass with eight seconds left in the game.

SCSU started out hot in the first half going on a 12-to-2 run in the first 10 minutes in the game to jump out to a 10-point lead. The Owls got the lead to as high as 11 points with less than seven mintues in the half but Pace battled back in the final seven minutes and got the lead down to two points at the end of the half. Pace went on a 9-0 run in the final seven minutes of the half to pull within two. The Owls caused 15 turnovers by Pace in the first half and didn't allow them to pick up an offensive rebound. SCSU had nine steals in the first half, Camille Fantini (Andover, Mass.) led the Owls with three.



The second half started out intense, with both teams scoring back-and-forth and the game was tied four times in the first 10 mintues of the second half. SCSU finally got out to a five point lead with eight minutes remaining but the Setters battled back and took the lead with three mintues to play. Smith-Ocran finally took the lead back for the Owls went she received a pass from Alex Fiola (Fall River, Mass.) and put up an easy lay-up. The costly turnover by Pace will eight seconds left sealed the deal for SCSU after that. 

Smith-Ocran led the Owls in scoring with 12 points and in rebounds with eight. Alex Fiola and Sylvonya Moore (Stockton, Calif.) each tallied nine points in the game. Fiola shot .500 (3-for-6) from behind the three-point line and recorded three steals and two assists. Moore added an additional three assists and two steals. Keshia Primo (Mississauga, Ontario) tallied eight points and four rebounds off the bench for SCSU. Lauren Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) grabbed five boards to go along with four points, two assists and two steals.

Southern Connecticut improved to 24-4 on the season. Pace droped to 20-8 on the year. The Owls will play Sunday in the championship game at Bentley University. The championship game will tip-off at 1 p.m.