NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team defeated Saint Michael's College, 54-51 at Moore Field House. The Owls improve to to 8-9 overall and 2-7 in the Northeast 10, while the Purple Knights fall to 8-7 overall and 2-7 in the NE10.
Senior
Imani Wheeler (Dumfries, Va.) collected a game-high 16 points, four assists and three steals, while shooting 4-for-5 from three-point range and 6-for-13 from the field. Freshman
Amani Boston (Dorcester, Mass.) tallied nine points, five rebounds and two assists. Senior
Paula Tattari (Kerava, Finland) notched a career-high 10 points and two blocks. Redshirt freshman
Alexa Kellner (Stamford, Conn.) tallied seven points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Quarter Scores
Q1: SMC 21, SCS 8
Q2: SMC 33, SCS 29
Q3: SMC 44, SCS 41
Q4: SCS 54, SCS 51
How It Happened
- After the Owls collected the first set of points 18 seconds into the game, the Purple Knights fired 15 unanswered points to take a commanding lead. They held Southern to just six more points in the frame and led by 13 at the end of the first.
- The second quarter saw turn in events as Southern Connecticut found a groove thanks to a nine-point quarter from Boston and an eight-point quarter from Wheeler.
- Saint Michael's scored the first six points of the quarter to take their largest lead of the game, 27-8, with 7:58 remaining. The Owls would outscore the Purple Knights 21-6 the rest of the quarter to cut the Saint Michael's lead 33-29 at the half. SCSU was down by as many as 19 points when Saint Michael's led 27-8 with 7:58 remaining in the second quarter and responded with a 21 point quarter to help cut the deficit.
- A pair of back-to-back three-pointers from Wheeler tied the game at 38 for the Owls with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Purple Knights were able to withstand the Owls surge, and they held a three-point lead at the end of 30 minutes played.
- The final quarter was a low-scoring affair for both squads. With the Owls down three to start, Aaliyah Walker (Toronto, Ontario) drained a three 41 seconds into the quarter, tying the game at 44.
- With the Owls down 49-44 with just under five minutes remaining, Tattari strung together three back-to-back layups, giving the Owls a one-point lead with one minute remaining. Both Kellner and Tattari took turns at the line, both going a solid 2-for-2 gave the Owls a five-point lead with seven seconds to play. Overall, Southern went on a 10-4 in the final five minutes of the game to complete their comeback victory over Saint Michael's with Tattari notching eight of her final 10 points in the final ten minutes.
Notes
- Imani Wheeler has recorded double-digit points in five straight games with 16 points against Saint Michael's.
- Wheeler has snagged three or more steals in three of her last four games played.
- Paula Tattari registered a career-high 10 points. Her previous career-high of six points was set last game against Southern New Hampshire on Jan. 14.
- Tattari tallied her first two free throw attempts of her collegiate career with seven seconds left in the game.
- Alexa Kellner recorded a career-high five assists against Saint Michael's. Her previous career-high was four against Dec. 14.
Up Next
The Owls will travel to Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to face the Ravens as 5:30 p.m. in Rindge, N.H.
