Garden City, N.Y. - In the final home contest for four seniors, the Adelphi University women's basketball team defeated Saint Michael's College on Senior Day, by a final score of 55-51.
A slow start defined this one, with only two points being scored through nearly the game's first three minutes.
This pace continued as only free throws were scored until under the six-minute mark, with Jordan tying the game at 4-apiece. The Purple Knights weren't able to net a field goal until around the 3:30 mark of the initial quarter. A lay-up with under five seconds to the buzzer gave Saint Michael's the 11-10 lead after 10 minutes.
The second quarter saw a slight increase in pace, but it was the Panthers (7-20, 5-16 NE10) who had a hard time hitting from the floor. A lay-up from
Rolanda Robinson broke that cold streak with 7:24 to play in the half. A string of shots from beyond the arc by Robinson and
Maura Carney tied it up with a few minutes until the break. A late run from Saint Michael's gave them some cushion, but
Christina Sanchez's lay-up with 17 seconds cut the Brown and Gold's deficit to three heading into the intermission.
Out of the locker room, Adelphi began to click offensively. Following the two squads exchanging baskets for the first four minutes and change, an 11-0 run for the Panthers completely changed the tide of the ballgame, capped by a baseline jumper from
Jenna Jordan. With more stellar defense from the 'Cats, the home team took a two-point lead into the final quarter.
The Brown and Gold continued to apply pressure on the visitors. A pair of free throws by
Kaitlyn O'Connell upped the advantage to nine with just 2:38 to play. However, a corresponding 7-0 run from the Purple Knights closed the gap to two with under a minute left in regulation. With ball security getting the 'Cats to the line, Sanchez's corresponding two free throws with 10 seconds to play sealed the 55-51 win.
Head Coach
Sade Jackson and the Panthers will now look towards their regular-season finale on Wednesday (Feb. 24), when they travel to Assumption University. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
