Jan. 20, 2007

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Junior Mary Lepore poured in a game-high 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds to lead the Adelphi University women's basketball team to a convincing 62-50 win over the University of Bridgeport. The Panthers have won their third straight to improve to 7-8 overall and 6-2 in the ECC. The Purple Knights drop to 4-10 and 4-5 in the conference.

Junior Gianna Smith connected on 4-of-6 from the field and 8-for-8 from the line for a 16 point effort. Junior Jordan Gambino recorded a career-high 12 points off the bench, with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

After trading baskets for the first ten minutes of the half, UB took a three point lead, 14-11, at 11:21. The Panthers held the Purple Knights to just one basket over the next 11 minutes, to open an eight point lead, 24-16. UB had the last word before the break, as the Panthers led 24-18 at the half.

The Panthers maintained its lead through the 17:38 mark when the Purple Knights used an 11-2 run to regain the lead, 33-32, on a jumper by Mary Hulgraine at 15:13. A basket by sophomore Serita Lee sparked a 11-2 Panther rally, 45-35, with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation. Adelphi shot 65 percent from the field in the second half as its lead ballooned to 16 points on two made free throws by graduate student Valentina Ionova at 3:38. Lepore accounted for five of the final points as they cruised to the win.

Bridgeport was led by Angelina Jimenez with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Adelphi was 15-for-15 from the charity stripe, its best showing in almost five years. The last time the Panthers were perfect from the line was during the 2001-02 season on a 13-of-13 effort on February 26, 2002 against Mercy College.

The Panthers are back in action this Tuesday, January 23, as they host cross-town rival C.W. Post at 5:30 p.m.