Jan. 15, 2011
Box Score
Garden City, N.Y. -
The Adelphi University women's basketball team hosted the Warriors of Merrimack College this afternoon at the Center for Recreation and Sports. Adelphi came back in the second half after a big Warriors' run to hold on to the victory, 54-45. AU improves to 7-8 and 4-7 in the NE-10, while Merrimack drops to 7-7 and 5-5.
For the Panthers, senior Ashley Caiafa scored a game-high 19 points, while sophomore Samantha Breidenbach contributed with 10 points and nine boards. Freshman Jessica Kitrys was also in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
After Merrimack took 6-5 lead early in the first half, the Panthers went on a run and extended their lead to double digits with 8:02 left in the half, 22-11. During the run, Adelphi would get a three-pointer each from Caiafa and Sade Jackson to spark the Panthers. The Warriors would come back and cut into the Panthers' lead and get within four, 22-18, with 4:22 remaining after a jumper from Gennifer Roy. Over the next four minutes, AU would go on a 6-1 run to get their lead back to nine, 28-19, after a lay-up from Kitrys. Roy would connect on a three with 14 seconds left to cut the lead to six, 28-22 at the half.
The Panthers came out of the half firing on all cylinders and extended their lead to 35-22 after a free throw from Caiafa. Over the next 10 minutes of the second half, Merrimack would go on a 20-4 run to take a 42-39 lead with 7:42 left in the contest. Adelphi would trail the Warriors until they got a bucket from Kitrys with 2:00 minutes left on the clock to make the score 46-45. Breidenbach and Caiafa would go 8-for-8 from the free throw line combined in the final 40 seconds to seal the victory.
Adelphi shot just 31.6-percent from the field in the win but held Merrimack to just 25.7-percent. Merrimack held the egde in rebounds 52-49, while AU turned the Warriors over 16 times.
For the Warriors, Roy scored a team-high 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Sarah Benischek, Kelly Shatzlein, and Chelsea Shea all chipped in with nine points.
The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, January 19 when they host #15 Bentley University at 5:30 p.m.
