Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score

North Andover, MA -

The Adelphi University women's basketball team traveled to North Andover, Massachusetts this afternoon to take on league-rival Merrimack College in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. The Panthers shot 61-percent from the field in the second half and held the Warriors to 30-percent from the field, but a seven-point halftime lead guided the Warriors to the victory, 66-62. Merrimack improves to 7-9 and 5-6 in the NE-10, while Adelphi falls to 2-13 and 0-12 in the league.

For the Panthers, freshman Kara Tancredi scored a game-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Sophomore Theresa Foley posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Ashley Caiafa was also in double figures with 13 points. 

Merrimack jumped out to an early seven-point lead, 16-9, which would eventually extend to a 24-14 lead with 9:33 left in the first half after a Tiffany Colon jumper. The Panthers would then go on a 6-0 run highlighted with back-to-back buckets from Foley and Tancredi. A Geniffer Roy 3-pointer would give Merrimack a nine-point lead with 5:17 till the half, but two Caiafa scores would cut the lead down to 31-26. A Casey Miller three-point play would send the Warriors into the half with a 34-27 lead. 

The Panthers would come out of the locker room and get two 3-pointers from Caiafa to take their first lead of the afternoon, 40-39. Freshman Samantha Breidenbach would convert a lay-up with 7:29 remaining in regulation to tie the score at 52-52, the seventh tie of the contest. Over the next five minutes Merrimack would go on a 10-2 run capped off by two free throws from Kelly Schatzlein. With 23 seconds left on the clock, Foley's lay-up would get the Panthers to within three, 63-60, but it wasn't enough as Merrimack hit free throws down the stretch to hold on to the 66-62 victory.

For the Warriors, Sarah Benischek scored a team-high 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Schatzlein and Miller each added 13 points. Roy contributed 10 points and handed out four assists.

The Panthers return to action on Monday, January 18 when they host non-conference opponent Dowling College at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Recreation and Sport.