Feb. 12, 2005

Box Score

Old Westbury, N.Y. - Freshman Gianna Smith (Hempstead, N.Y.) registered 11 of her game-high 19 points in the first half to lead the Adelphi University women's basketball team to a 68-66 win over NYIT. The Panthers improve to 12-11 overall and 11-9 in the NYCAC. The Lady Bears drop to 11-11 and 9-10 in the NYCAC.

Junior Carlyshia Hurdle (Brentwood, N.Y.) had 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and senior Tamarra Richardson (Brockton, Mass.) tallied a career-best 14 points. Senior Meranne Whitney (Nashua, N.H.) rounded out the top scorers with 10 points.

Both teams got off to a sluggish shot with the score tied, 9-9, at 14:30. Smith scored nine of the next 20 points as Panthers opened a 29-15 lead with 5:19 remaining in the half. The Panther defense forced 17 NYIT turnovers while picking up eight steals. Adelphi realized its largest lead of the half, 35-20, with :57 left. However the Lady Bears had the last word, with freshman Jessica Matarrese (Levittown, N.Y.) hitting the layup at the buzzer.

NYIT continued its rally in the second half, opening on a 9-2 run. A three-pointer by Richardson sparked a 10 unanswered Adelphi points to lead, 47-31, with 13:00 minutes on the clock. The Lady Bears stepped up its play, holding the Panthers to just four points over the next five minutes to trail by just three points, 49-46, at 8:19. NYIT then scored 10 of its next 12 points from the free throw line to close to within two, 56-54, with 4:06 on the clock. Senior Melanie Mangone (Middle Village, N.Y.) tallied the next five Adelphi points in a 9-2 run with 1:17 remaining. NYIT used the next 60 seconds outscore Adelphi 11-2, 67-66, with 16 seconds on the clock. Magone hit 1-of-2 from the line to push the lead to 68-66 as the Panthers held on for the win.

NYIT was led by sophomore Anette Johansen (Oslo, Norway) with 18 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Emily Bolling (Palmer, AK) had 11 points.

Adelphi has swept its series against NYIT this season. Next up, the Panthers return to Woodruff Hall, hosting St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m.