Box Score  

FINAL SCORE: Saint Michael's 71 | So. Conn. St. 53
TEAM RECORDS: So. Conn. St. (6-8, 2-5) | Saint Michael's (7-6, 5-3)
 
COLCHESTER, VT. – Despite a double-double performance from senior Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell to Saint Michael's College, 71-53, in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown on Wednesday evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a close first quarter as both teams battled for the lead until a jumper from Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) gave the Owls a six-point lead, 12-8, at the 1:27 mark. Shortly after, Saint Michael's rallied off a short run to bring to the score within one, 12-11, before continuing that run into the next quarter, 16-12.
 
Saint Michael's took over on offense as the hosts outscored Southern Connecticut, 23-9, to take a 34-21 lead at the half.
 
Southern Connecticut slowly chipped away at the Purple Knights' lead as a Weselyj jumper brought the score to within five, 41-36, with 4:42 left in the third. Saint Michael's would close out the third with a seven-point lead, 51-44 and would remain ahead for the final 10 minutes of regulation to secure the NE10 victory.
 
FIRST HALF STATS

• Southern Connecticut out-rebounded the Purple Knights, 20-17.
• Maria Weselyj (Marlborough, Conn.) and Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) led the Owls' offense with eight points apiece while McLaughlin led the team in rebounds with six.
• Southern Connecticut went 0-of-7 from long range.

 
SECOND HALF STATS

• Southern Connecticut out-shot Saint Michael's 23-17 in the third.
• The Owls out-rebounded the Saint Michael's again the second half 24-17.
• Southern Connecticut shot better in the second half shooting 40.5% from the floor.
• McLaughlin collected 14 of the Owls' 24 rebounds.

 
FINAL STATS

• McLaughlin earned her eighth double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Weselyj finished the evening with 19 points.
• Southern Connecticut remained on-top in rebounds 44-34.
• Saint Michael's held an edge over the Owls in assists, 19-5, points off turnovers, 11-7, bench points, 4-0, and fast break point, 15-6. 

 
UP NEXT
Southern Connecticut returns to action on January 7th at Stonehill. Game is set for a 1:30 p.m. start time.