Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi women's basketball team held Philadelphia to 35 percent shooting in the second half but could not overcome a 44-33 difference in rebounds, falling 66-64 to the Rams on senior night. With the loss Adelphi finished the regular season with a record of 15-12 overall and 14-10 in the conference, while Philadelphia posts marks of 19-11 overall and 17-7 in the conference.

Adelphi outscored Philadelphia 12-4 over the first three and a half minutes of action to take an eight point lead. The Rams responded by outscoring Adelphi 17-9 over the next nine minutes to knot the game at 21 apiece.

Betty Mendieta (North Bergen, N.J.) answered right back with a jumper that sparked a 12-2 run to put the Panthers back on top by 10 points, 33-23 with 3:14 to play. Philadelphia closed the half with a 10-2 to pull to within two points, 35-33 at the half.

Philadelphia and Adelphi opened the second half by trading baskets, before Philadelphia took their first lead of game, 40-39, on a made free throw by Kiesha King (Philadelphia, PA) with 16:20 to play.

The Rams pushed out to their largest lead of the half, 46-41 with 10:38 to play on an Alisha Ferguson (Fort Washington, PA) made free throw. Adelphi battled back and took a brief one-point lead at the 7:05 mark before Philadelphia pulled back ahead.

But, Adelphi would not go quietly, knotting the game at 61 with 1:44 to play on a lay-up by junior Carlyshia Hurdle (Brentwood, N.Y.). The Rams snuck back ahead by two on two made free throws by Samara Speakes (Philadelphia, PA). Meranne Whitney (Nashua, NH) converted one of two free throws to pull Adelphi within one, but Speakes answered by making one of two as well to put the Rams ahead for good.

Adelphi was led by junior Carlyshia Hurdle who scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Hurlde also became the 16th woman in Adelphi history to top the 1,000 point mark when she scored her 11th point of the night. Mendieta and Whitney also reached double figures, scoring 15 and 12 respectively.

Philadelphia was led by Speakes and Kym Heere (Churchville, PA) who each chipped in 21 points and six rebounds. Nicole Mechell (Springfield, PA) was the only other Ram in double figures with 10.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, March 2nd when they participate in the first round of the NYCAC tournament at a site and time to be determined.