Purchase, NY (Jan. 26, 2019) – USMMA used a second-half surge to fuel a 69-60 Skyline Conference victory over the Purchase College women's basketball Saturday afternoon. 

After a strong start by Purchase in the first half, the visiting Mariners would fight back with a vengeance to earn their 15th win of the season. The loss drops Purchase to 9-9, (7-6 SKY).

Purchase ignited in the opening minutes, attaining an 11-0 lead, capped off by two successful free-throws by Shadai Plowden (FR/Yonkers, NY).

USMMA's Lauren Hunter would make two consecutive buckets to put USMMA on the board, making the score 11-4.

After a bit of back and forth scoring, Purchase's Amber Jones (SR/Bronx, NY) and Alfa DeJesus (JR/Bronx, NY) made two consecutive layups to increase their lead to 12 (largest of the game). Purchase would round off the quarter with a 3 by Amber Jones, making the score 21-11.

The second quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth scoring, however USMMA had the advantage, having won the quarter 19-16, however Purchase retained their lead, 37-30.

The second half is where things began to heat up for USMMA. The Mariners started the 3rd quarter with a 6-0 run, narrowing the deficit to just one point. The Panthers countered this by scoring on five of the next six opportunities, increasing their lead back to 7 points. The rally was short-lived, as a late push in the stanza would propel the Mariners ahead of the Panthers by two points.
USMMA would take the momentum into the fourth quarter, starting off the quarter on a 15-0 run which put the Panthers in a hole. Purchase began to rally back late, however at no cost, as they ultimately suffered the tough defeat 69-60.

Purchase was led by Jones, who scored 30 points and four rebounds. Plowden, DeJesus and Nyasia Harris (SR/South Fallsburg, NY) tied for eight points apiece, while posting nine, four, and eight rebounds, respectively.

For the Mariners, Kaleigh D'Arcy led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Teammates Lauren Hunter and Julia Dahlke scored 17 points apiece while collectively grabbing 16 boards.
Purchase will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at SJC-Brooklyn.