Box Score

FINAL SCORE: Queens (N.Y.) 90 | So. Conn. St. 86
TEAM RECORDS: So. Conn. St. (0-1) | No. 18 Queens (N.Y.) (1-0)
 
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Despite a career-high and a double-double from senior tri-captain Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell short to No. 18 Queens (N.Y.) College by the score of 90-86 as part of the UB Women's Basketball Classic on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Queens (N.Y.) controlled the opening six minutes of the game until back-to-back free throws from McLaughlin gave the Owls their first lead of the game, 12-11. However, the Knights would close out the first period with a 21-17 lead following a 10-5 run.
 
The Knights continued to play their game in the second period, pushing their lead to nine, 35-26. Southern Connecticut kept within reach, but trailed Queens (N.Y.) 41-36 at the half.

With 5:38 to go in the third, senior Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) hit a deep three to put the Owls within one, 49-48, before Southern Connecticut claimed a two-point lead, 65-63, entering the final period.

During the final nine minutes, both Southern Connecticut and Queens (N.Y.) batted back and fourth for the lead, but Queens held it together to go on to win 90-86.
 
STAT BREAKDOWN

• McLaughlin set the tone for the offense with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field as well as tallied 10 rebounds and two assists.
• Senior Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) registered 17 points, a rebound and a steal while fellow starter Kiana Steinauer (Oakville, Ontario) registered 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, a block and an assist.
• Junior Abby Hurlbert (Thomaston, Conn.) was a big contributor off the bench as she registered 14 points, two steals, two assists and a rebound.

 
TEAM BREAKDOWN

• Southern Connecticut shot higher than Queens (N.Y.) in field goal percentage (52.5% – 45.2%), three-point percentage (43.8% - 37.5%) and in free throw percentage (73.9% - 66.7%).
• The Owls held a 24-19 edge over Queens in bench points as well as a 26-21 edge in points off turnovers.

 
UP NEXT
Southern Connecticut returns to action tomorrow, November 13th against the University of Bridgeport.