GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball defeated Adelphi, 82-41 in an NE10 matchup on Wednesday evening. The Panthers dropped to an overall record of 12-11 and an NE10 record of 6-10. The Owls improved to an overall record of 19-5 and an NE10 record of 14-2. Nine different Owls added points to the scoresheet, while the starting five for Southern Connecticut all had double-figures against Adelphi.
Rheyna Steinauer recorded her third double-double of the season with a team-best of 16 points and a team-best of 11 boards, as she was 5-for-9 from the floor, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Taeya Steinauer had 15 points, was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, had a team-best of three assists, three boards and a steal.
Hope Fox had 13 points, was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, grabbed four boards. had a team-best of three assists and two steals.
Tish Blackwood had 12 points, grabbed nine boards, was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, had a team-best of three assists and three steals.
Jillian Martin had 11 points and was 5-for-8 from the floor.
Arianna Gerkin had eight points, was 2-for-4 from the floor, 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, grabbed four boards and had two assists.
Ally Sentance grabbed four boards, had two points and two assists while
Maya Henry had three points and two steals and
Jaycee Merizalde had an assist and a rebound against the Panthers.
In the first quarter, Southern started off with a 13-4 run, that was sparked by made baskets by
Taeya Steinauer,
Rheyna Steinauer and
Tish Blackwood. In the last three minutes of play, the Owls ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, due to a jumper by
Jillian Martin and a three-pointer by
Hope Fox. The Owls finished the quarter with a perfect, 4-for-4 from the three-point line, as a team and were up 18-6, heading into the second.
In the second quarter,
Rheyna Steinauer scored four points for the Owls, in the opening minutes of play. The Panthers put some points back on the board but Martin,
Rheyna Steinauer, Blackwood, Sentance, Henry, Gerkin and Fox, all made baskets to go on a 21-7 run for Southern. Finishing the quarter, the Owls played great defense and headed into halftime up 41-16, over Adelphi.
In the third quarter, the Southern Connecticut offense finished what they started in the first half.
Rheyna Steinauer and Fox scored the first baskets of the half for the Owls, as the Panthers added some points to their total. However,
Tish Blackwood scored back-to-back layups, to put Southern up, 52-20, with five minutes left. Points from Fox, Martin, Gerkin and
Rheyna Steinauer allowed the Owls to extend their lead to 63-30, heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, points from Blackwood, Martin and
Taeya Steinauer helped Southern, to continue their fast paced play and extended their lead to 39 points. In the final two minutes,
Arianna Gerkin and
Maya Henry made a total of four made free-throws and
Lovie D'Onofrio scored the first points of her career, to close out the Owls' 82-41 victory over Adelphi.
The Owls will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1:30 pm against Saint Michael's in the James Moore Field House.
