Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Despite a double-double performance from junior forward
Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team was defeated on Sunday afternoon at Moore Fieldhouse by University of Sciences (Pa.) by the score of 78-61. Following the loss, the Owls fall to 7-7 on the season while the Devils picked up their sixth straight win and improve to 8-4 overall.
Beathea recorded her 10th double-double of the season, 11 points and 11 rebounds, as well as posted two assists, a block and a steal. Along with Beathea, senior guard
Sydni Lester (Teaneck, N.J.) registered a team-high 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals. Sophmore
Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) and senior
Mariah Hankton (Upper Marlboro, Md.) contibuted nine points each, respectively. Hankton also chipped in with three rebounds, while McLaughlin recorded four rebounds, an assist and a steal for the host.
The two teams battled back-and-forth in the opening minutes before Univ. of Sciences took an early 12-6 lead over the Owls after a three-pointer from Brianne Traub. Following a made jumper from McLaughlin, Southern Conn. found themselves within four (16-12), but the Devils answered right back pushing their lead to double-digits, 25-14, with 10:56 left in the first.
The Devils continued to dominate in the first half taking another 11 point (31-20) lead with 2:52 remaining in the first half. Southern Conn. slowly chipped away at the Devils lead and ended the half on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to six, 33-27, heading into halftime.
Southern Conn. shot 39.4 percent (13-of-33) from the floor, as well as shooting 20.0 percent (1-of-5) from long range. Univ. of Sciences (Pa.) went 14-of-31 (45.2 percent) from the field and 5-of-12 from deep. Beathea led the Owls in first half with eight points and seven rebounds.
Just three minutes into the second half, the Owls tied the Devils at 35-all before taking its second lead of the game, 36-35, after back-to-back free throws from Lester. The Owls' lead was short lived as the Devils regained the lead, 38-36, at the 17 minute mark. Over the next 10 minutes, Southern Conn. kept the visitors' lead to single digits, 59-53, until a 7-0 run by the Devils extended their lead to 13, 66-53.
Southern Conn brought the score to within 10 (66-56,) at the 2:53 mark, but Univ. of Sciences answered back with an 8-0 run bringing the score to 74-56. In the final minute of play, the Devils took their biggest lead of the game, 78-59, and defeated the Owls, 78-61.
The Owls return to action on Wednesday evening, January 7 at 5:30 p.m. when they travel to Southern New Hampshire. The Northeast-10 match-up will be televised regionally on NESNplus. Check back to www.southernctowls.com this week for more information.
