MANCHESTER, N.H. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball fell to Southern New Hampshire, 62-58 on the road on Saturday afternoon. The Owls dropped to an overall record of 16-6 and an NE10 record of 9-6 while the Penmen improved to an overall record of 10-11 and an NE10 record of 6-9.
Delaney Haines led the team with 19 points, as she was 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, grabbed three rebounds and had a team-best of three steals.
Rheyna Steinauer had 11 points, as she was 4-for-9 from the floor, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, grabbed eight boards, had a team-best of three steals and a block.
Katie Williamson scored nine points, grabbed six boards and had a team-best of three blocks.
Jillian Martin and
Hope Fox both had six points, as they both dished out four assists. Martin had three steals and three rebounds while Fox led the team with 10 boards and was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.
Lyzi Litwinko had four points while
Ally Sentance added three points and
Renza Milner grabbed five boards for the Owls.
In the first quarter, Southern New Hampshire took an early lead, but
Katie Williamson scored four points to get the Owls on the board. The Penmen kept hold of the close lead until
Jillian Martin hit a three-pointer, with an assist from
Hope Fox, to take a 13-11 advantage over Southern New Hampshire, in the final seconds of the quarter.
Hope Fox led the Owls with four rebounds in the first quarter alone.
In the second quarter, Southern Connecticut opened the quarter with a 10-2 run, with made jumpers by Williamson, Steinauer and Haines. Much as the first quarter, it was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams. The Owls scored a portion of their points from the free-throw line and were 8-for-9. Southern New Hampshire went on a 6-0 run in the last two minutes; however, Southern Connecticut followed that with a 6-0 run of their own, as the Owls took a 38-29 lead, heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Penmen came out of halftime, ready to go, as they cut the Owls' lead to just three points.
Delaney Haines hit her first two three-pointers of the game, to give Southern Connecticut momentum, as the approached the half-way mark of the quarter. Southern New Hampshire weren't going away as they continued to stay with the Owls. Haines scored eight out of the Owls' 13 points, as they took a 51-43 lead, going into the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Steinauer knocked down a made layup and a free-throw to extend Southern Connecticut's' lead. The Penmen toughened out a 11-0 run to tie the game at 54-54 with 4:57 left, then seconds later, with two made free-throws, they took a two-point lead. With two made free-throws, one by Williamson and one by Martin, Southern Connecticut tied the game at 56-56. However, seconds later, Southern New Hampshire hit two free-throws to take the lead again, with 2:51 left. Once again, the Owls went to the free-throw line where
Delaney Haines hit two made free-throws, to tie the score at 58-58 with 1:41 left.
After Southern New Hampshire hit two free-throws to take the lead, Southern Connecticut took a timeout with 19 seconds left. Seconds later, Southern New Hampshire hit two more free-throws and despite the Owls' efforts, the Penmen walked away with a close, 62-58 victory.
The Owls will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in NE10 play against American International College in the Moore Field House.
