Box Score

Purchase, NY (Jan. 12, 2013) – An overtime loss last time out seemed to fuel the Purchase women's basketball team, who returned to action Saturday at home against Sage following Wednesday night's tough extra session defeat, to upend the Gators, 70-62.

The Panthers lost four days ago to Old Westbury, 74-70, in OT after hitting a buzzer beater at the end of regulation. Purchase, which had several foul out in the extra period Wednesday night, would make sure that it started and finished strong Saturday, and instead of playing an additional five minutes, closed out the victory over Sage by making key free throws and playing defense down the stretch.

Leading the charger were tri-captain Jess Lindsay (JR/Rochester, NY) and breakout newcomer Talia Beaulieu (SR/Waldorf, MD). The two combined for 45 points, with Lindsay scoring a game-high 23 and Beaulieu added 22 in a resounding home win that improves Purchase's record to 7-8 and 2-3 in Skyline Conference play, as the Panthers continue to make a playoff push in January.

The loss dropped Sage to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the league.

Lindsay was outstanding in the first 20 minutes. She scored 17 of her team's 34 first-half points. Behind the star forward, Purchase led 34-19 at the break.

The game started as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find the bottom of the basket. There was no score for nearly three minutes until Lindsay hit a jumper for a 2-0 margin. She then added two free throws at 15:18 for a 4-0 lead.

Sage countered with its first score and a free throw shortly later from Julia Race, who connected on 1 of 2, to make it 6-3. The two traded hoops, but Lindsay scored again to push the lead to 8-6.

The Panther lead ballooned to 16-6 as Lindsay scored 12 of the team's first 16 points.

With the score 16-6 Purchase, Sage started to get in a groove of its own. The Panthers went up 18-6, Sage's Erica Houle drained a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 18-9. Beaulieu would add seven points of her own in the first 20 minutes and despite a strong push from the Gators, the Panthers led by 15 at the half.

Lindsay and company picked up where they left off in the first. Lindsay scored to increase the lead to 40-24, two minutes into the period.
Some more defensive play followed over the next few minutes before Houle hit another 3 at 12:41 to cut into the lead (46-34). But Purchase responded yet again, increasing the lead to 49-38 at 8:53 and then 51-38 on a beautiful feed from point guard Alexis Billups (SR/Chester, NY) to Beaulieu, as she raced through the lane and sliced to the hole for a basket. 

Under five minutes, Lea McClain dropped in a runner for the Gators as Sage would make one final push. Her score made it 55-48.
Beaulieu would then hit a jumper and standout rookie Elizabeth Osowiecki (FR/Franklin Square, NY) followed with an impressive final five minutes, scoring at 3:53 and then at 2:43, adding a free-throw shot on the second basket for a 62-50 lead. The young center then helped the Panthers from the line later, sinking another key freebie from the charity stripe to push the lead to 63-58 as the Gators kept coming.

Sage's Megan Bowman netted a running layup that brought the Gators within three (63-60) in the closing minutes. But, after being fouled on the play, she missed the free throw and Purchase would close out strong the stripe. Under a minute, Beaulieu hit both for a 66-60 lead and Billups added another for a 67-60 lead. Lindsay St.Hilaire (SO/Wyandanch, NY) later connected on 1 of 2 and Lindsay capped it with a pair from the line.

Osowiecki contributed eight points and four rebounds in the win. Teammate Jessica Bullock (JR/Thiells, NY) came off the bench and went 3 of 3 from the field for seven points. St.Hilaire also added a game-high 10 rebounds.

Purchase won the battle on the glass, 40-28, and outshot Sage 41.5 to 37.5 percent for the game.

For the Gators, they were led by Bowman and her team-high 20 points. Houle added 15 off the bench, including four 3s. McClain chipped in 10 points in defeat.

The Panthers will be back in action next week on the road at CMSV.