Garden City, N.Y. - The second-fastest start to a season for the Panthers came to an end Tuesday, when the No. 12 Adelphi University women's basketball team lost its first game of the 2019-20 season to Stonehill College, 68-60, in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Center for Recreation and Sport in Garden City.
The Panthers (16-1, 7-1 NE10) got out to a sizzling start, using a 14-4 first-quarter run to jump out to a 21-9 lead.
Katie Murphy made three straight baskets in the burst, as part of her 13-point night.
Jess Camarda and
Julia Strachan each buried a three, while
Emily Miccile capped it off with a lay-up. Miccile paced the Brown and Gold offensively with 15 points in the contest.
Adelphi, which shot 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from the field and 50.0 percent (3-of-6) in the first quarter, led 21-11 at the conclusion of one period of play and held a comfortable 31-22 advantage at the half.
The Skyhawks (10-4, 6-2 NE10) took over though in the third quarter and reeled off a 14-0 run midway through the period to grab its first lead since the game's opening basket at 42-35.
Despite shooting a game-low 17.6 percent from the field in the quarter, the Panthers pulled within a point (46-45) just before time expired, on a
Fallyn Stephens three-pointer.
In the final period,
Leonie Edringer quickly drew a shooting foul to open the quarter and subsequently sank 1-of-2 free throws to tie the score, but Stonehill answered with a 6-0 spurt to re-gain the lead.
Adelphi clawed back and forced a key pair of turnovers that ultimately led to the hosts retying the game at 52-all with 3:21 left. Almost a minute later, Stephens hit her second three-pointer of the game to put the Panthers back in front at 57-56.
However, Stonehill closed out the game on a 12-3 run to seal Adelphi's fate. The Skyhawks were impressive from the line down the stretch, making all eight of their attempts in the final 1:45.
The Panthers will look to bounce back Saturday (Jan. 18), when they travel to Manchester, N.H. for a 1:30 p.m. opening tip at NE10Â Northeast Division preseason favorite Saint Anselm College.
