Dec. 22, 2007

Box Score

Albany, N.Y. - Despite an even second half, the Adelphi University women's basketball team was unable to overcome a first-half deficit, falling 71-59, in non-conference action at The College of St. Rose. The Panthers fall to 5-5 while the Golden Knights improve to 3-6.

Senior Gianna Smith led the Panther with 16 points and nine rebounds. Junior Serita Lee was the only other player in double figures with 12 points to go along with nine rebounds.

Adelphi led 7-0 in the opening two minutes, but St. Rose rattled off 15 of the game's ensuing 17 points and never looked back with a 15-9 lead halfway through the first period. The Panthers were within five, 23-18, with 4:49 remaining when the Golden Knights closed out the period on an 11-4 run to go in the locker room up a dozen, 34-22. Adelphi struggled from the field, connecting on just 9-of-30 and only 1-of-10 from three-point range. St. Rose shot 37 percent (10-27) and went to the free throw line 13 times, shooting 84.6 percent.

The Panther improved in the second half, matching the Golden Knights with 37 points a piece, but it was not enough. Saint Rose maintained a double-digit advantage throughout most of the final 20 minutes, before putting it out of reach with a 6-0 spurt at the 4:23 mark that transformed a nine point, 59-50, cushion into a 15 point, 65-50, advantage with 3:25 left.

St. Rose had three starters in double digits, led by Elizabeth Buckley with a game-high 20 points. Dana Brown and Ashley Anderson had 14 points each, with Anderson pulling down a game-high 10 boards.

Adelphi returns to conference action next Saturday, January 5, as they travel to Mercy College for 1:00 p.m. contest.