Garden City, N.Y. - A late comeback effort fell just short for the Adelphi University women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon inside the Center for Recreation and Sports as the Panthers rallied from a double-figure deficit but were ultimately set back by the visiting Hawks of Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference play, 75-72.

The Panthers (8-7, 5-3 NE10) trailed for much of the first half only to wrestle the lead back in the third, despite surrendering the first three baskets after halftime. Behind 47-37 with 8:19 left in the third, the Brown and Gold scored 14 of the next 15 points to take its first lead (51-48) since a Niajah Morgan layup put them ahead at 11-10 with 5:29 left in the first stanza. 

From there, the Brown and Gold went back and forth with the Hawks (11-3. 6-3 NE10), the sixth-ranked team in the region in the D2SIDA media poll this week, until Fallyn Stephens sank a game-tying three pointer from the right wing with 2:23 left in the fourth to tie the game at 72-72.

Neither side sunk a field goal the rest of the way to ensure the game was won at the free throw line and with defense, and though the Panthers had a chance to go-ahead on two possessions in the final 90 seconds, the Hawks' defense stood tall when the visitors needed it most. 

Six-foot-four junior center Shannon Ryan blocked two of the Panthers' three go-ahead efforts in the final minute, but after Saint Anselm point guard Grace Guachione missed both of her free throws with 13 ticks on the clock, Adelphi had a chance to tie with its three three-point threats on the floor in Stephens, Julia Strachan and Jess Camarda.

Nonetheless, Stephens' first effort found iron but found its way into the arms of Emma Cuccurullo, Camarda's effort from the left side was tipped by Peyton Steinman and the Hawks escaped with a cross-divisional conference victory. 

Morgan set a new career-high in the setback with 25 points, breaking her previous mark set earlier this season in a 24-point effort against Saint Rose on Dec. 5. She was joined in double figures by Leonie Edringer, who totaled 15 and eight rebounds, but ultimately, the post play of Ryan and guard play of Steinman proved a two-headed attack too much for the Panthers to overcome.

Ryan totaled a game-high 30 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks for her 11th double-double of the season, as well as her third game scoring 30 points or more for the year. On the outside, Steiman drained a season-best 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the floor, which included 14 in the first half.

Cuccurullo provided a spark for the Panthers off the bench in a season-high 24 minutes, as she totaled six points, seven rebounds and three assists, all of which are career-bests for the freshman to date. 

The Panthers return to action on Tuesday night, as they host Merrimack College inside the Center for Recreation and Sports at 5:30 p.m.

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About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally and nationally competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.

Winners of 16 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Panther athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi athletic department is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.

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