Feb. 13, 2007

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Graduate student Valentina Ionova's 16 points led a balanced attack as the Adelphi University women's basketball team topped Queens College, 69-56. The Panthers improve to 12-11 and 11-5 in the ECC, while the Lady Knights fall to 6-17 and 4-12 in the league.

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes before Queens opened a five point lead, 11-6, at 14:51. Sophomore Lisa Manetta put the Panthers up for good, 17-15, on a jumper at 11:34 which was part of a 10-0 run. The Lady Knights closed to within one point twice, both on baskets by Jessica Sanchez, with just under three minutes remaining. Junior Gianna Smith scored the last four points of the half to give Adelphi a 34-29 advantage at intermission.

Queens struggled from the floor in the second half as Adelphi's lead ballooned to 14 points on a three-point basket by Ionova at 17:02. The Panthers led by as much as 17 points with just under seven minutes remaining, when the Lady Knights rattled off 10 unanswered points to close to within seven at 2:30. That would prove to be the last basket for Queens as senior Betty Mendieta accounted for four of the last six Adelphi points.

Sophomore Serita Lee grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to help the Panthers hold a 37-28 advantage over the Lady Knights. Mendieta and Smith chipped in 12 points each, while junior Mary Lepore added 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.

The Panthers shot 51.8 percent from the field in the contest compared with 36.8 percent for the Lady Knights. Despite a combined 51 turnovers, Adelphi managed 15 steals, converting for 31 points.

Sanchez led Queens with a game-high 21 points and five rebounds. Bethanie Mandresch had 11 points.

Adelphi returns to action on Thursday, February 15, hosting Dowling College at 5:30 p.m.