Box Score

Purchase, NY (Feb. 10, 2013) – The last time that Purchase faced conference foe Farmingdale State, the Panthers were dealt a double-figure loss. “This time is going to be different,” said Jeidar Cole (SO, Bronx, NY) before the start of the game, “We're a different team now.”  

And it was different.

A revamped second half of the season roster turned around that double-digit defeat from earlier in the year into a 75-74 thriller at Purchase on Sunday – a day after the game was moved due to the recent snow storm in the Northeast. FSC, which won 76-38 in the first meeting, had to be taken back by the Panthers' sterling effort in the first 20 minutes.  

Newcomer Talia Beaulieu (SR, Waldorf, MD), who amassed 21points and 10 boards, led the Panthers in a back-and-forth first half that saw seven lead changes, ending with Purchase leading 36-30 at the half.

The Panthers would stretch the lead to nine, the largest point margin of the game in the second half following some more see-saw play from the two teams.

However, FSC would not go without a fight.

Point guard Nicky Young led her team and the game in scoring with a total of 31 points and nine rebounds, practically willing her team to victory this afternoon.

But Purchase proved that team play always wins out.

After a Jalisa Fields (SR/Bronx, NY) layup with 6:44 left in the game, FSC's Young put the team on her back scoring five of the next seven points for her squad to help pull the Rams within three points with less than five minutes to go.

Purchase's second leading scorer, Elizabeth Osowiecki (FR/Franklin Square, NY), who scored 16 points, Lineker St.Hilaire (SO/Wyandanch, NY) and Fields formed a nice tandem to try and hold the lead for the final two minutes.

It would take all the defense Purchase could muster to stop the scoring machine in Young. After Young hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to six points with a minute and 14 seconds left, two free throws by Osowiecki would bring the lead back up to eight points.

Young hit a 3-pointer with 59 seconds on the clock. A missed layup by Beaulieu, and a foul by St.Hilaire on a three-point attempt by Young, where young converted all three from the charity stripe saw the Purchase lead drop down to two with 26 seconds to go.

Then, after turnovers by both teams in the dwindling seconds of the game, desperate to stop the clock, Alexis Billups (SR/Chester, NY) was fouled with two seconds left. Billups hit both shots to take the lead to four.

Young then rushed the ball up the court and drained another 3 to put her team within one (75-74) with one second on the clock.
FSC then intentionally fouled after the inbounds pass to force Fields to the line.  

Fields would miss those two free throws, but they wouldn't have mattered anyway. With less than one second on the clock, a desperation full court shot by Young would fall way short, as FSC fell to Purchase in a hard-fought game.

This win brings Purchase to 14-9 (8-4 Skyline Conference) and drops FSC to 9-11 (7-5).

In the win, Beaulieu led Purchase with a team-high 21 points. She also grabbed 10 rebounds in a double-double effort. Osowiecki was impressive off the bench, netting 16 points and grabbing six boards in 18 minutes, many of which came in crunch time in the second half.

St.Hilaire also recorded a double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds), while Fields chipped in 10 points as four Panthers finished in double figures offensively. Billups paced the Panthers with a team-high six assists. She also contributed six points and seven rebounds in a solid all-around effort.

FSC was paced by Young's 31 points. Nikita Green, who fouled out late in the second half, added 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Teammate Siohban Purvis was the final player for the Rams in double figures. She scored 12 points in defeat. 

Purchase will now host NYU-POLY on Tuesday night. The Panthers have reeled off five straight victories and eight of their last nine, and will look to make it six in a row as they welcome the Jays.