Box Score

COLCHESTER, Vt. –  Despite a team-high 19-point effort from senior Mariah Hankton (Upper Marlbor, Md.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team came up short against Saint Michael's College, 74-73, Saturday afternoon at the Ross Sports Center.
 
Sophomore Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) came in off the bench with 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal while Owls' starter Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.) chipped in with 11 points, four rebounds and a steal. Junior Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) led the Owls' defense with a team-high three blocks.
 
Saint Michael's took control early opening the game on an 8-2 run, but Southern Conn. was able to bring the score to within two, 8-6, with 16:28 left to play. The Owls kept the score to within reach, but a made jumper by the hosts extended its lead to six, 14-8.
 
Southern Conn. continued to chip away at the Purple Knights' lead until a three-pointer from Chandler Williams (Chepachet, R.I.) brought the score to within one, 23-22, with 5:40 left on the clock.
 
Shortly after, Saint Michael's went on a 12-3 run bringing its lead to double-digits, 35-25, but the Owls managed to cut the lead to four, 35-31. The Purple Knights ended the first half on a 5-2 run taking a 40-33 lead heading into halftime.
 
Saint Michael's and Southern Conn. both shot 33.3 percent from long range while Southern Conn. shot 37.5 percent from the field and 100 percent from the line.
 
Southern Conn. came out charging to start off the second half cutting the Purple Knights' lead to one, 42-41 after a made layup from Beathea. Following an Owls' timeout, the visitor's grabbed its second lead of the game, 43-42, after a made basket from Beathea.
 
Soon after, Saint Michael's went on an 11-2 run securing a eight-point lead, 53-45, over the Owls. However, an 11-2 run by the visitors brought the score to 56-55 in favor of Southern Conn.
 
During the next four minutes, both teams traded baskets until Saint Michael's regained an eight-point lead over the Owls, 69-61. In the final minute of the play, Southern Conn. battled back to tie the Purple Knights at 73-73, but came up short, 74-73, after a made free throw from Indira Evora.

The Owls return to action on Wednesday, January 21 as they travel to North Easton, Mass. to take on Stonehill College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.