Box Score

Purchase, NY (Nov. 29, 2011) – Purchase navigated in and around some early trouble before finding a quick flurry of points in the second half that helped the Panthers edge visiting USMMA, 51-45, Tuesday night.
 
In the process, the Panthers (3-2) won their home opener, seizing the matchup in the second stanza before the home crowd. The Panthers opened on a 6-0 run in the first period, highlighted by two jumpers from Rachel Perrone (SO/Poughquag, NY). Perrone would later push the lead to 10-0 on another bucket.
 
But the Mariners would rally and cut the deficit to 10-7 on the heels of super sub Demi VanDerWal. VanDerWal would account for 13 of the team's 21 first-half points.
 
Rachel Perrone, the team's starting center, would score eight points in the opening period for the Panthers. Forward Jessica Perrone (SO/Poughquag, NY) also had a sharp first 20 minutes, netting four points of her own. Purchase and USMMA would trade baskets in the closing nine minutes of the first, with the Mariners cutting the lead to 12-11 and later 20-17 on another jumper by VanDerWal. Shortly after that, a steal by Roshenda Josephs and a layup brought the Mariners within three (22-19). USMMA would cap the first-half scoring on a basket by captain Alicen Heinrich.
 
However, Purchase responded in the second as Jessica Perrone netted an early hoop and Alyse LaPadula* (SR/New Rochelle, NY) sunk a free throw that incrementally increased the lead. Purchase led 25-23 three minutes into the second, but utilized another Rachel Perrone score and a timely hoop from Jess Lindsay (SO/Rochester, NY) to make it 31-27. The Panthers slowly put some space between themselves and the Mariners.
 
A smooth layup by LaPadula and two more scores from Rachel Perrone and the Panthers had a six-point lead with around 11 minutes to play. Another tally by Perrone at 9:59 made it 37-29 and the Mariners never recovered.
 
The two teams matched intensity and some key baskets inside the final 10 minutes, with Purchase outscoring USMMA 29-24 over the final 20 minutes.
 
Rachel Perrone led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds. LaPadula added eight points and eight boards and Alyssa Guido (SR/Cliffside Park, NJ) netted eight and grabbed five rebounds in the win. LaPadula also dished a game-high seven assists in a sharp 28 minutes of action.
 
Jessica Perrone finished with six points and four rebounds. Christina Rupp (FR/Ossining, NY), Alexis Billups (JR/Chester, NY) and Lindsay also did a nice job on both ends of the floor as the entire team banded together for the win.

VanDerWal finished with a team-high 15 for Merchant Marine. Tamara Kaileh added 12 points in the loss.
 
The Panthers will now travel to Mount Saint Mary Thursday night for their conference opener against the Knights in Newburgh.