Dec. 5, 2005

Box Score

Smithfield, RI - The Adelphi women's basketball team held host Bryant University to just 21 points on just 20 percent shooting in the second half to pull within one with seconds remaining. However the Panthers could not complete the comeback, falling 68-67 to Bryant. With the loss Adelphi falls to 2-4 overall, while the Bulldogs improve 2-4.

Bryant could do nothing wrong in the first half as they shot 69% from the field and 66% from beyond the arc. Juniors Joanna Skiba (Providence, RI) and Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, CT) led the first half attack each scoring 11 points. Bryant would take a 47-29 lead into the locker room at the half.

The second half was a whole new ball game as the Panthers crept back into the game bucket after bucket. In the first six minutes of the second half, Adelphi used a 10-2 run to cut the Bulldog lead to just eight points. The two teams would then exchange baskets over the next two minutes.

At the 12 minute mark, the Panthers added another solid run scoring nine straight points to cut the lead to just two. Adelphi sophomore Mary Lepore (Manhasset, NY) tied the game at 56-56 with one free throw and then gave the Panthers their first lead of the game by knocking down the next free throw.

Mackenzie Lynch (Wayne, NJ) put Bryant back on top by draining a deep three from the corner to give the Bulldogs a 61-59 lead with 5:39 remaining. Bryant would push that to a seven point advantage, 68-61, with just 2:42 left.

The Panthers crept back into the game again, pulling within five on a Betty Mendieta (North Bergen, NJ) lay-up. Then Lepore canned a three-pointer with 1:37 on the clock to pull Adelphi within two points, 68-66.

Adelphi held Bryant scoreless over the final 2:42 to give Mendieta a chance to knot the game at 68 with eight seconds left. Mendieta hit the second of two free throws to cut the Bulldog lead in half. The Panthers managed to foul Bryant's Lynne-Ann Kokoski, who missed both free throws, giving Adelphi one more shot.

With 3.2 seconds to play Adelphi inbounded the ball, which ended up in Mendieta's hands, but her three bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

Skiba led the Bulldogs with 21 points and eight assists. Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, CT) was the only other Bryant player in double-figures, scoring 13 points and adding 12 boards.

Carlyshia Hurdle (Brentwood, N.Y.) led the Panthers with 20 points and added five rebounds and two blocks. Teammates Gianna Smith (Hempstead, N.Y.) and Mendieta added 11 points apiece.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, December 7 when they play host to Mercy College at 5:30 pm in Woodruff Hall.