Garden City, N.Y. - In a game where the outcome came down to the final possession, the Adelphi University women's basketball team held on for a 53-51 victory over Saint Anselm College on Sunday, to open up the 2026 portion of the schedule. 

Series History:

• Today's victory marks the second in a row for Adelphi over the Hawks, and just the tenth all time since 2010. In its last time out, the Panthers topped Saint Anselm in the Northeast 10 Conference quarterfinal last season, taking a 64-61 victory to advance to the semifinals. 
• The Panthers longest win streak against Saint Anselm is three (2022-23). 

Highlights: 

• Victoria Morales and Madison Williams both led the team in scoring with 12 points apiece, as the former also fished out a team-leading five assists. 
• Gamila Betton and Lauren Beberman accounted for seven and eight rebounds, respectively as the Panthers edged Saint Anselm in the category 42-41.
• Betton finished a game-leading +12 on the afternoon while Lauren Beberman continued her defensive stand with three blocks and eight boards. 

How it Happened: 

• What started out as trailing by four after the opening ten minutes of action, turned into a seven-point deficit for Adelphi as Tatum Forbes crossed half court and heaved the ball into the basket at the buzzer.
• The teams were tied at the halftime break after Adelphi doubled their opponents score in the second frame, to stand at 23-all. The home team put together a 10-point run midway through the second as the Hawk offense went cold. 
• The Panthers won the third frame by a narrow three-point margin, using three three-pointers and a pair of baskets from Me'Challe Cancer to amount to 15, while Saint Anselm collected sixe second chance points en route to 12 in the quarter. 
• With 4:51 to play, the teams were at a 45--45 stalemate; it wasn't until Betton's second chance layup at 1:22 that gave the hosts the lead for good. 
• Saint Anselm had three attempts at the basket before settling for a pair of free throw attempts with 11 seconds remaining in regulation. 
• It came down to the final possession, following Williams' 1-for-2 performance at the free throw line - Saint Anselm found a lane to the basket which did not fall as time expired, giving the Panthers their first win in 2026. 

Up Next: 

• The Panthers head to New England to take on Assumption University on Wednesday, January 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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