Box Score Purchase, NY
(Jan. 9, 2015) – A valiant second-half comeback saw Purchase get within four points late in an eventual 55-50 loss to Mount Saint Mary Friday night at home.
The Panthers (2-9, 0-2 Skyline Conference) trailed 31-19 at the half, but rallied for 31 second-half points, closing the gap to single digits under 10 minutes and as close to two possessions in the final four minutes.
However, MSMC, which improved to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the league, outlasted the Panthers' ferocious effort to seal the victory.
MSMC guard Marisa Delzio led all scorers with 21 points. Teammate Lauran Romao added 19, eight rebounds, two assists and four steals in a nice all-around effort.
Purchase was paced offensively by center
Elizabeth Osowiecki (JR/Franklin Square, NY) and
Allison Haugh (SO/New City, NY), who each finished 15 points apiece.
Kristine Viven (JR/New York, NY) chipped in six points and eight rebounds and teammate
Jeidar Cole (SR/Bronx, NY) contributed eight points and 10 boards in a near double-double.
Like the contest, the Knights narrowly won the rebounding margin (38-34) and committed one less turnover in the contest (25-26).
Purchase shot 40 percent from the field in the second half to spark the turnaround. A Haugh 3-pointer midway through the period cut the game to 12 points and shortly later Osowiecki and Cole went on a run offensively that slowed pulled the game back within single digits.
A nice size crowd for mid-winter break, which included members of the men's basketball team, provided some energy for the hosts, who closed within four and stayed within eight for most of the final five minutes before the Knights sunk free-throws late to close the win.
