Box Score
Purchase, NY (Nov. 20, 2013) – A hot start turned into a nail bitter in the second half, but the Purchase College women's basketball team still managed to hold on and route Bard College, 70-59, in its home opener Wednesday night.
The Panthers (1-2), who allowed two games to slip away in the second half in their season-opening tournament last weekend at St. Joseph's University in Connecticut, answered the bell this time after leaping out to a 36-15 lead at the break. The visiting Raptors outscored Purchase 44-34 in the second half and even cut the game to five points in the closing three minutes.
But with two and a half minutes to go, breakout newcomer Jazmin Garcia (JR/Peekskill, NY) connected on a clutch 3-pointer stretching the lead back to eight. Teammate Jessica Bullock (SR/Thiells, NY), who like Garcia had a huge night offensively, followed moments later with a steal and a two-point hoop to extend the lead back to 10 with under two minutes to go.
Purchase and Bard would exchange baskets and free throws over the final minute and half, holding off the Raptors to seal its first win of the season.
Garcia led all scorers for the Panthers, netting 20 points for the night. Bullock and Jess Lindsay (SR/Rochester, NY) also hit double digits in points; Bullock with 16, and Lindsay with 10.
Bard (0-3) was anchored by Tytravia Riley, who scored 23 points, a game high. But it would not be enough to beat the Panther women on their home court. Defensively, Purchase was paced by Lineker St.Hilaire (JR/Wyandanch, NY) and new point guard April Uhl (FR/Jackson Heights, NY), who added two assists. St.Hilaire handed out a team-high five assists in the win, sharing the game high with Bard's Joanna Regan.
Bard played up to the challenge in the second half. In an offensive flurry led by Riley, and Abbey Labrecque, the Bard women were able to claw their way back into the game.
Despite being outscored in the second half by 10 points, the Panther defense, led by St. Hiliare, made enough plays in the waning moments to close out their first win.
Up next, Purchase will play host to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, on Monday, Nov. 25.
-With Bobby Ciafardini, SID
