Box Score

QUARTER SCORES:
1: 17-13 (SCS)
2: 34-28 (SCS)
3: 50-42 (SCS)
FINAL SCORE: So. Conn. St. 65 | Assumption 63

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior Nicole Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) connected on the game-winning basket at the final buzzer as the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team defeated Assumption College, 65-63, in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Owls improve to 14-7 overall and 7-6 in the Southwest Division while the Greyhounds fall to 12-6 on the season and 7-5 in the Northeast Division.



Grossbard not only scored the game-winning basket, but she also recorded a career-high 11 assists as well as chipped in with two rebounds, four points, a block and a steal. The last time an Owls' had 10+ assists in a game was by Anabel Perdomo back on February 24, 2004 at Le Moyne.

Four different Owls scored in double-digits as senior Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) led the team with 19 points, two rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Senior Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.) registered her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Junior Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) was the next Owl to finish in double-digits with 12 points, two rebounds and an assist while junior Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) rounded out the Owls' double-digit scorers with 11 points, six rebounds, team-high three steals, a block and an assist.

The first quarter began with two lead changes and two ties before Southern Connecticut took an 8-4 lead over Assumption seven minutes in. With 1:46 left in the quarter, the Greyhounds brought the score to within one, 11-10, but the Owls would close out the frame with a 6-3 run to take a 17-13 lead heading into the next frame.

Assumption began the second quarter with a 4-0 run before the hosts pushed their lead to nine, 28-19, following an 11-2 run sparked by Powell. Southern Connecticut did not stop there as the Owls extended their lead to double-digits, 32-22, with 3:25 left on the clock. However, Assumption would close the double-digit gap to six, 34-28, heading into the locker room.

At the half, Southern Connecticut led the Greyhounds in rebounding with a 23-12 edge, while Beathea reached her double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Southern Connecticut's offense continued to control the game as the Owls outscored the visitors' in the frame 16-14. During the first minute, Assumption battled back to within three twice before a deep three from McLaughlin gave the Owls a nine-point lead, 45-36, at the 5:28 mark. The Owls managed another short spurt extending their lead to 11, 50-39, but the Greyhounds would trail 50-42 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was different then the rest as Assumption took control at the 7:08 mark. That was the visitors first lead since the 6:58 mark in the first period.  Over the next five minutes, Southern Connecticut slowly played catch-up with the Greyhounds and trailed no more than three.

Powell evened the score at 63-63 after a good jumper in the paint with 1:16 remaining, but Assumption would control the ball until the 25 second mark where McLaughlin blocked a Greyhounds' layup to give the Owls' offense the opportunity for the last basket of the game. With the clock winding down, Grossbard decided to take it into her hand and made the bank shot with no time left on the clock to give the Owls the home win.



The Owls are back in action this Saturday, Jan. 30 at Bentley University.