PURCHASE, NY – Energy, focus and a no-fear offense—all the ingredients of a home victory were there for the Purchase College women's basketball team Saturday afternoon. The only thing the Panthers didn't have going for them was the final score as they dropped a heartbreaking 68-67 decision to the Golden Eagles of St. Joseph's College (L.I.). 

Shadai Plowden (SO/Yonkers, NY) led the Purchase scoring with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Plowden contributed early, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line for a total of 11 points in the opening half. Arta Krasniqi (SR/Bronx, NY) recorded 11 points, seven rebounds and a game-high two blocks, while Dejeana Peoples (JR/New York, NY) and Amber Rodriguez (SO/Queens, NY) rounded out the double-digit scoring for PC with a combined 20 points (10 apiece). Peoples also grabbed seven boards and three steals for the home team.

Purchase (2-12, 1-8 SKY) broke the scoring ice on a Peoples' three-pointer, assisted by Krasniqi. St. Joseph's (4-11, 2-8 SKY) answered back on their next possession with a three from Julianna Knice. The bucket sparked a 15-2 run for the Golden Eagles and with a little less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, the visitors led 15-5.

A quick substitution call from head coach Varrell Eddie flipped the switch for the Panthers as they connected on three unanswered baskets in the final minute to come within three points of the visitors' lead (15-12).

Purchase continued to claw back in the second quarter, scoring 10 unansered points in under a minute to take an 18-15 lead. The Panther rally forced SJC head coach Vicki Andruszkiewicz to call a timeout. Back-and-forth scoring would be the theme over the next several minutes as the quarter played through four lead changes. The Golden Eagle offense shot 69 percent in the stanza, while Purchase shot 50 percent. SJC held a 42-34 halftime advantage.

The Panthers made a comeback after the break. Fueled by a nine-point performance from Krasniqi, the Panthers stayed hot and recorded another quarter at 50 percent shooting. The final 10 minutes played out differently however, as the home team cut its shooting percentage in half after connecting on only 4-of-16 shots from the field.

With less than two minutes remaining, Peoples converted an SJC turnover into two points and Plowden followed with a pair of free throws to bring Purchase within one basket of the Golden Eagles' lead (65-63). Then with under 25 seconds to go, Alfa DeJesus (SR/Bronx, NY) scored another for PC after going 1-for-2 from the charity stripe. The rally was short-lived however, as St. Joe's connected on three of its four free throws down the stretch to close the game out in front, 68-67.  

The Panthers will return to action this Wednesday (Jan. 22) at St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn). Tip-off from The Hill Center is slated for 7 p.m.

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