Box Score QUARTER SCORES:1: 17-10 (SCS)
2: 27-25 (STA)
3: 45-35 (STA)
FINAL SCORE: Saint Anselm 60 | So. Conn. St. 50
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Despite a double-double performance from senior forward
Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.) and a late run in the second half by the visitors, the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell to Saint Anselm College by the score of 60-50 on Saturday afternoon at Stoutenburgh Gym.
With the loss, Southern Connecticut drops to 12-6 and 5-5 in the conference while Saint Anselm improves to 9-6 and 6-5 in league play.
Beathea led the Owls offense with 15 points, a steal and 14 rebounds (five offensive and nine defensive) while junior
Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) chipped in with 12 points, a steal, two assists and a rebound.
The Owls finished the day shooting 29 percent (18-of-62) from the field, 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the free throw line. The Owls outrebounded the Hawks 43-39 while the Hawks held a 7-1 edge in blocks.
Following two ties and three lead changes, Saint Anselm found themselves ahead by one, 6-5, until a jumper from
Nicole Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) sparked an Owls' 12-0 run to put the visitor's ahead 13-6 with 2:07 remaining in the first period. Southern Connecticut closed out the period with a seven-point lead, 17-10, following another Owls' short spurt.
Beathea led the Owls in the first frame with a total of five points and three rebounds while Grossbard recorded team-high three assists, four points and three rebounds.
Up seven entering the second period, the Owls continued to capitalize on offense extending their lead to eight, 20-12, following a layup from Beathea at the 9:12 mark. However, Saint Anseslm battled back to within one, 20-19, after a 7-0 run. With five minutes remaining till halftime, Southern Connecticut regained a six-point lead, 25-19, but it was Saint Anselm who would lead heading into halftime 27-25.
In the first half, the Owls shot only 26.7 percent from the floor as well as shot 12.5 percent from long range and 80.0 percent from the free throw line. The Owls outrebounded the Hawks in the first, 24-19, but the hosts would hold a 4-0 edge in steals over the visitors.
Saint Anselm continued to dominate on offense as the Hawks opened the third quarter with an 18-4 run giving the hosts their biggest lead of the game with 16, 45-29. However, a 6-0 spurt by the Owls brought the score to within 10, 45-35, heading into the final quarter.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Beathea recorded her 10th double-double of the year.
The fourth quarter saw Southern Connecticut battle back to within three, 47-44, entering a Hawks timeout with 5:54 left to play. The first five minutes of play the Owls went on a 9-2 run to make it a one possession game while Weselyj had the hot hand as she scored five of the Owls nine points. It didn't stop there as the Owls remained within two points of the Hawks, but the hosts secured the 10 point home victory.
The Owls are back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 20 against Southern New Hampshire. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Moore Field House.
