Box Score QUARTER SCORES:1: 14-11 (STR)
2: 29-19 (STR)
3: 43-39 (SCS)
FINAL SCORE: So. Conn. St. 70 | St. Rose 60
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sophomore
Paige Decker (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) scored a career-high 19 points as the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team picked up its first Northeast-10 Conference victory over the College of Saint Rose 70-60 on Saturday afternoon at Moore Field House.
Following the win, the Owls improve to 5-3 on the season and 1-3 in the league while the Golden Knights fall to 4-3 and 3-2 on the year.
Decker tallied 19 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range and 5-of-8 shooting from the field as well as recorded four rebounds and four assists over 26 minutes of play. Junior
Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) also scored in double-figures for the Owls as she chipped in with 15 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Saint Rose opened the start of the game with a 9-0 run until a three-pointer from
Nicole Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) broke the run and the Owls' silence five minutes in. The Golden Knights continued to dominate on offense as the visitor's pushed their lead to eight, 11-3, before a 5-0 run by the hosts brought the score to within three, 11-8. However, Saint Rose would lead by three, 14-11, heading into the second quarter.
Similar to the first, Saint Rose opened the quarter with a 6-0 run to take a nine-point, 20-11, lead over Southern Connecticut. With five minutes to go in the quarter, the Owls would bring the score to within four, 22-18, after a jumper from
Allie Smith (Danbury, Conn.), but Saint Rose closed out the half with a 7-1 run to take a 10-point, 29-19, lead heading into halftime.
Saint Rose continued its momentum into the third quarter as a layup from Karissa Birthwright extended the visitors' lead to 11, 31-20. However, a huge spurt from the hosts tied the game for the first time, 35-35, and Southern Connecticut closed out the quarter with an 8-4 run to take a 43-39 lead over the visitors.
Southern Connecticut's run didn't stop there as the team extended its lead to double-digits, 52-42, with 8:26 left to play. From that point on, the Owls' offense lead for no more than 10 points until a three from Taylor Nazon brought the score to within nine, 66-57. Within the final 30 seconds, Saint Rose cut the Owls' lead to seven, 66-59, but the Owls went on to win it 70-60.
The Owls are back in action on Dec. 10 as the team hosts Concordia (N.Y.). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Moore Field House.
