Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - With the score knotted at 69-69 with less than two minutes to go, the Adelphi University women's basketball team was unable to pull ahead, falling to host Mercy College, 77-69, on Wednesday night. The Mavericks improve to 8-16 on the season and 5-10 in the East Coast Conference, while the Panthers drop to 11-13 and 8-7 in the league.

Four players scored in double figures for Adelphi, led by sophomore Ashley Caiafa with 13 points. Junior Keri Schumacher added 12 points off the bench and senior Serita Lee and freshman Theresa Foley had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Mavericks opened the contest on a 12-2 run to take the early lead. They led by as much as 12 points, 23-11, with 11:43 remaining in the first half. Adelphi took advantage of a Mercy shooting slump to close to within two points, 29-27, capped by a bucket from senior Lisa Manetta at 7:45. But then the Panthers went cold as the Mavericks rallied on an 8-0 run, 37-27, at 5:22. At intermission, Adelphi trailed Mercy, 43-35.

The Panthers came out strong in the second half, opening on a 12-5 run to make it a one point game on a Caiafa jumper, 48-47, at 16:00. The game remained close as the Panthers, tied the game at 55-55 on a layup by Foley. Her steal on the next play and subsequent basket by Schumacher gave Adelphi the lead, 57-55, with 10:26 on the clock. After a lead change and two more ties, the Mavericks outscored the Panthers 14-3 over the next six minutes to pull ahead, 69-60. Adelphi again fought back with nine unanswered points to knot the score at 69 on a Caitlin Wetmore layup with 1:17 left in regulation. But three Panther turnovers and two missed shots allowed the Mavericks to pull ahead in the final minute, 77-69.

Both teams shot 43 percent from the field in the contest, but Mercy faired better from the free throw line, converting on 10-of-12 (83.3%) compared with 7-of-10 (70%) for Adelphi. The Mavericks also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Panthers 47-33.

Mercy was led by Christina Baxter with a game-high 20 points. Delmara Reece had 19 points while pulling down 24 boards. Ashley Finnegan chipped in 17 points off the bench.

Adelphi returns to action this Saturday, February 21, as they host Dowling College at 1:00 p.m. The game is part of the WBCA's Pink Zone initiative and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of a cure for breast cancer. At half-time of the contest, Adelphi will present a fund-raising check to the NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.