Feb. 11, 2004

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Freshman Betty Mendieta (North Bergen, N.J.) registered a career-best 18 points along with a record 11 steals to lead the Adelphi University women's basketball team to an 83-56 victory over Mercy College. The Panthers improve to 13-5 overall and 14-7 NYCAC while the Lady Flyers drop to 1-21 on the season and 1-18 in the NYCAC.

Mendieta's 11 steals broke the Adelphi single game record of ten steals set by Jesse Dlabola in 2003.

Junior Melanie Mangone (Middle Village, N.Y.) also scored in double figures, notching 17 points and four rebounds for the Panthers.

The game remained close in the first half, tying three times. Mercy took a quick 9-7 lead at 14:44 on a three-point basket by senior Cynthia Ruiz (Endicott, N.Y). Senior Jamie Douglas (Hopatcong, N.J.) hit a jumper to tie the game. She had nine points and four rebounds on the night. The Panthers outscored the Lady Flyers 41-21 in the remaining minutes to hold a 50-32 advantage at the half.

Adelphi continued to dominate second half. They saw their largest lead of the night, 83-54, with less than a minute remaining. The Panthers held the Lady Flyers to just 22.9 percent shooting, 8-of-35, in the second half.

On the night, Adelphi forced 43 Mercy turnovers, while collecting a season-best 25 steals. This was just one off from tying the Adelphi single-game team record of 26 steals set back in 1994.

Mercy was led by Ruiz, who scored 14 points. Senior Rachel Awaolow (Central Islip, N.Y.) added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Panthers return to action this Saturday, traveling to the University of New Haven. Game time is 2:00 p.m.