Box Score EASTON, Mass. - Despite an 18-point effort by senior
Mariah Hankton (Upper Marlboro, Md.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell in overtime in a tough Northeast-10 Conference contest to No. 5/7 Stonehill College, 82-74, on Wednesday evening.
Sophomore's
Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) and
Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) each chipped in with 13 points, respectively. McLaughlin also registered five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block while Weselyj recorded two assists and a steal.
Just 55 seconds into the first half, Stonehill rattled off five quick points before a made jumper from Hankton sparked a 6-0 run for the Owls and securing its first lead of the game, 6-5.
With the score in favor of the Southern Conn., 21-14, the visitors continued to push its lead to double-digits, 25-14, after a layup from
Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) at the 10:47 mark. During the next four minutes of play, Stonehill continued to chip away at the 11-point deficit until a layup from Paige marshal brought the score to its first tie, 29-29.
Both teams battled for the lead until a jump shot from McLaughlin put Southern Conn. up four, 35-31. In the final two minutes of the half, both teams went through four lead changes, but the Owls held a 41-40 lead heading into halftime after a layup from
Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.) with one second left on the clock.
Southern Conn. continued were they left off in the first as the Owls opened the second half on a 10-1 run. With Southern Conn. up 51-41, Hankton and Weselyj extended the lead to 13, 56-43, after back-to-back baskets with 14:36 remaining. Similar to the first half, Stonehill continued to chip away at the Owls' lead until tying the game at 62-all, following a layup from Tori Faieta.
After two minutes of no basket, Southern Conn. broke the silence with a basket from
Sydni Lester (Teaneck, N.J.) at the 6:10 mark. The Owls continued to keep their lead strong for the next four minutes, but a layup from Kelly Martin put the Skyhawks up two, 69-67, with 2:51 left on the clock.
Shortly after, Southern Conn. was able to regain its lead, 70-69, but a free throw by the Skyhawks tied the game, 70-70, and sent the conference game into overtime.
Feeding off the last basket from the hosts, Stonehill grabbed a quick 74-70 lead over the Owls with 3:48 left to play in overtime. Southern Conn. brought the score to within two, 74-72, but Stonehill secured the 82-74 victory over the Owls.
The Owls return to Moore Field House Saturday, Jan. 24 when they take on Franklin Pierce University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
