Box Score

QUARTER SCORES:
1: 19-12 (STR)
2: 20-27 (STR)
3: 49-40 (SCS)
FINAL: Southern Conn. St. 68 | Saint Rose 51



ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior tri-captain Nicole Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) of the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team had a career day as she recorded her first career double-double and a career-high 13 assists in the Owls 68-51 win over the College of Saint Rose on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Owls sweep the series between the two teams.
 
Following the win, the Owls improve to 15-10 and 8-9 while the Golden Knights fall to 14-11 and 8-10. As of today, Southern Connecticut is ranked fourth in the Southwest Division while American International, Adelphi and Le Moyne claim the top three spots.
 
Grossbard is now tied in second in the SCSU Single-Game Assist mark along with Joan Van Ness who recorded 13 assists against UCONN in 1977-1978 and Liz Gleason who also tallied 13 assists against Montclair in 1976-1977. Grossbard also recorded her first career double-double with 13 points to go along with her 13 assists.
 
Senior Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.) also had a day as she recorded her 16th double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds. She also registered  a block.
 
Junior Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) led the Owls' offense with a team-high 15 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Junior Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) scored her 11 points in the second half for the Owls as well as recorded two rebounds and a steal. Senior Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the visitors with 10 points, six rebounds, four blocks, an assist and a steal.
 
Southern Connecticut and Saint Rose came out with fire in their eyes as both teams fought for the first basket of the game. Saint Rose grabbed the early 5-2 lead just four minutes in, but McLaughlin managed to tie the game at 5-all after hitting the deep three from the side.
 
Saint Rose fought back with a 5-2 run to take a 10-7 lead heading into the first media timeout with 4:51 left on clock. The Golden Knights extended their run to 9-2, 16-9, before a McLaughlin layup broke the silence at the 2:30 mark. Fresham Amanda Pfhol (Trumbull, Conn.) brought the Owls to within five, 17-12, within the final minute, but Saint Rose would lead 19-12 heading into the second quarter.
 
Just like the first, both teams traded baskets and Southern Connecticut kept within reach of Saint Rose, 25-18, following two made free throws from sophomore Abby Hurlbert (Thomaston, Conn.). Following a missed shot from the hosts, Grossbard found McLaughlin down low for her seventh point and cut the lead to within five, 25-20, entering a media timeout.

Southern Connecticut did not stop there as four points from McLaughlin and three points from Hurlbert gave the Owls their first lead of the game, 27-25, with 1:17 left until halftime. However, Saint Rose would answer right back taking a 30-27 lead at the half.
 
At the half, Southern Connecticut led the way with a 14-8 edge in points in the paint, a 17-4 lead in points off turnovers and an 8-7 lead in second chance points. Saint Rose led the half shooting 45.8 percent from the floor while Southern Connecticut shot 39.3 percent from the field.
 
It was all Southern Connecticut in the third quarter as the Owls outscored Saint Rose 22-10. The Owls opened the quarter with an 11-2 run to put the visitors ahead 38-32 with 4:42 left on the clock. Saint Rose kept within reach of the Owls, but a steal and fast break layup from McLaughlin gave the Owls their largest lead, thus far, with nine, 49-40. The McLaughlin layup would be the final basket for both teams and would closed out the quarter.
 
Southern Connecticut continued to play defense as the Owls held Saint Rose to only four points over the first five minutes of the final quarter, 56-44. Less than a minute later, Saint Rose battled back to within 10, 56-46, but the Owls would extend their double-digit lead and never look back, defeating the Golden Knights by 17, 68-51.



At the end of the game, Southern Connecticut shot outshot the host in the paint 32-22, in points off turnovers 24-4, second chance points 17-7 and in bench points 19-15. The Owls shot 42.4 percent from the floor while the Golden Knights shot 40.4 percent from the field.

The Owls are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 16th against cross-town rival the University of New Haven. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Moore Field House.