PURCHASE, NY – Four different players reached double-digit point totals en route to a 71-56 victory over Sarah Lawrence College Tuesday evening at the Campbell Sports Center.
With the win, the Panthers snap a two-game losing streak and move to 4-17 overall (3-13 SKY). In defeat, the host Gryphons remain winless at 0-23 overall (0-18 SKY).
Purchase's
Shadai Plowden (SO/Yonkers, NY) led the attack with 19 points. The sophomore forward pulled down 10 rebounds to finish with her fourth double-double of the season.
Arta Krasniqi (SR/Bronx, NY) poured in 18 points and came within one rebound (9 total) of a double-double night. Krasniqi also recorded a game-high six assists, five blocks and four steals.
Dejeana Peoples (JR/New York, NY) contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while
Jazzmyne Hernandez (FR/Bronx, NY) finished with a season-best 10 points, seven boards and three assists.
Plowden broke the scoring ice off a pass in the paint from teammate
Reina Lebron (FR/Bronx, NY). Peoples poured in a three-pointer on Purchase's next possession and Krasniqi and Hernandez stretched PC's lead to 9-2 with back-to-back buckets. Sarah Lawrence answered back with a rally of its own, quickly erasing Purchase's advantage with a 10-1 run. The Gryphons closed the first quarter out in front, 18-14.
Purchase held a 13-11 shooting advantage in the second quarter to come within two points of the Gryphons' halftime lead (29-27).
The contest flipped in the second half, as the Panthers ignited on both ends of the court. A layup from Plowden in the opening minute tied the game at 29 apiece. Krasniqi added two points in the paint at 8:05 to push Purchase ahead of Sarah Lawrence, 31-29. The lead changed once more before a Plowden layup secured an advantage that Purchase would carry the rest of the way.
The Panthers shot 45.7 percent from the field (16-of-35) and held the Gryphons to just 21.9 pecent shooting (7-of-32) in the notable second half. Krasniqi shot 4-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-5 from beyond the arc to lead the second-half rally. Plowden added another 11 points (5-of-8) to the offensive effort, while the team combined for 49 rebounds and nine second-chance points.
The Panthers are back on the road this Thursday to take on Yeshiva University. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
