Purchase, NY (Jan. 16, 2018) – The Purchase College women's basketball team edged out the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday night, 62-59.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 6-7 overall with a 4-5 mark in the Skyline Conference. USMMA falls to 11-4 overall and 7-3 in conference action.
The Panthers were led by a 24-point, 15-rebound performance from junior
Nyasia Harris (South Fallsburg, NY). Of her season-best 24 points, 12 of them came in the first half.
Junior
Amber Jones (Bronx, NY) also reached double-figures, netting 13 points and grabbing three rebounds.
Purchase opened the scoring action in the first quarter with four quick points from junior
Amber Yarter (Albany, NY) and Harris.
Both teams exchanged buckets over the next few plays before a Shelby Peters layup gave USMMA its first lead of the game with just under four minutes left in the opening stanza. Purchase followed with eight unanswered points to close the first quarter in front, 16-9.
Merchant Marine chipped away at the Purchase lead, outshooting the Panthers 12-10 in the second quarter. At the half, Purchase led 26-21.
The Mariners continued to press in the third quarter, clawing within reach of the Panther lead. A 3-pointer by Kaleigh D'Arcy gave USMMA its first lead of the half, 39-38, at the 1:38 mark. Purchase was able to win back the lead, highlighted by back-to-back jumpers from Jones, before the sound of the third-quarter buzzer.
PC built up as much as a five-point lead midway through the fourth quarter on two made free throws from Jones, but USMMA continued to fight.
With just under a minute left to play, D'Arcy netted a layup and Gabrielle Salazar sunk a free throw, putting the Mariners ahead 59-57.
Purchase's
Kayla Ortiz (SR/Brooklyn, NY) answered back with a flawless 3-pointer to give the home team a 60-59 advantage. Yarter followed with two points off free throws to secure the 62-59 Purchase victory.
Purchase will be back at it on Saturday afternoon for more Skyline action, traveling to SUNY Old Westbury for a 12 p.m. tip-off.