WORCESTER, MA – Southern Connecticut women's basketball defeated Assumption University, 60-47 in the Northeast-10 Semifinals on Thursday night. With the win, Southern Connecticut will travel to Waltham, MA to face Bentley University for the 2024 NE10 Championship on Sunday, March 10, at 1:30 pm. This is the first time since 2012, that the Owls will be back in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. In addition, this was the 11th straight game that Southern has held a team under 60 points.
Makenzie Helms led the team with a game-high of 26 points, which matched her career-best. Helms shot 9-for-15 from the floor, recorded a team-best of five assists, grabbed two rebounds and was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line against the Greyhounds.
Hope Fox had a career-high of 15 points, as she was 100% from beyond the arc, 4-for-6 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Helms and Fox combined for 41 points, out of the teams' 60 points.
Katie Williamson had seven points, recorded a team-best of six rebounds, a team-best of three blocks and led the team with three steals.
Julianna Bonilla had six points, which included two made three-pointers, a team-best of six rebounds and three assists against Assumption.
In the first quarter, from the jump ball, it was a true defensive battle between the Owls and Greyhounds. Assumption started scoring quickly but Southern answered back. Defense held strong for both teams, as with 28 seconds left,
Makenzie Helms made a three-pointer to close the quarter at an even 7-7 score line.
In the second quarter, Helms made a jumper in the paint for the Owls, to give them their first lead. The defensive battle continued as both teams had to fight to make their possessions count. The lead would change between the teams, only with a one-to-two-point advantage. However, with four minutes left,
Hope Fox went on a scoring run for the Owls. Fox scored 12 points in the second quarter alone, from the three-point line to the paint and to the free-throw line. This helped Southern Connecticut immensely as they headed into halftime with a four-point lead.
In the third quarter,
Katie Williamson opened the half for the Owls with a made jumper and a made free-throw. Southern extended their lead throughout the quarter, but Assumption wasn't going away. The Greyhounds got within a point of the Owls' lead, as defense continued to be an important factor for both teams. Heading into the fourth, Southern led Assumption, 37-36.
In the fourth quarter, the Owls worked hard to defend and make shots against the Greyhounds. This paid off as they took a six-point lead with four minutes left on the clock. Assumption were working to make a comeback but Southern Connecticut made sure to hold strong with their lead. Southern went on a 14-2 run to finish out the game in the last quarter.
It was a 13-point fourth quarter for
Makenzie Helms, as she made three-pointers and free-throws to give Southern the momentum to win the game. Bonilla, Williamson, Steinauer hit key baskets that helped the Owls have the advantage. With 17 seconds left,
Hope Fox went to the line to make two free-throws, which gave the Owls their 13-point lead. Time ran out, as Southern Connecticut won 60-47 over Assumption, to make it back to the NE10 Championship game on Sunday, March 10 at Bentley at 1:30 p.m.
