Feb. 7, 2007

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Junior Gianna Smith poured in 23 points along with seven rebounds to lead a balanced Panther attack as the Adelphi University women's basketball team defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 75-49. The Panthers improve to 10-10 on the season and 9-4 in the ECC, while the Spartans fall to 11-9 and 10-4 in league play.

Junior Mary Lepore had 12 points and a game-high 12 boards. Senior Betty Mendieta and graduate student Valentina Ionova contributed 11 points apiece with Mendieta dishing out five assists.

The Panthers opened on a 17-6 run capped by a jumper from sophomore Serita Lee, who would finish with nine points and 10 rebounds. The Spartans responded on an 18-9 run to close to within one point, 25-24, on a jumper by Takiyah Ingram with 3:30 remaining. Smith accounted for six of the Panthers final 12 points in the rally to take a 37-27 lead into the locker room at half-time.

Adelphi held STAC scoreless in the opening minutes to push its lead to 16 points. The Spartans struggled in the second half, connecting on a mere 6-of-28 from the field, or 21.4 percent. In contrast, the Panthers were 10-of-22, or 45.5 percent. Adelphi's largest lead of the night, 72-43, came off of a Mendieta lay-up with 4:12 remaining in regulation.

In a physical contest which saw both teams combine for 44 turnovers and 46 personal fouls, Adelphi made 40 trips to the free throw line in the game, connecting for 72.5 percent. The Panthers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Spartans, 53-30.

The Spartans were lead by Kayla White with 13 points. Erika Ostrove had 11 points.

Adelphi returns to action on Thursday, February 8, as they travel to Dobbs Ferry, New York to take on Mercy College. Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.