Women's Basketball

January 30, 2010

Women's Basketball Wins Second Straight, Holds Off Adelphi, 67-62


Box score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2009-10/stats/wbstmade.htm.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (7-11, 5-10 Northeast-10 Conference) scored the last seven points to win its second straight game on Saturday afternoon, besting league newcomer Adelphi University, 67-62.

Senior Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) recorded a game-high 20 points and added eight rebounds in the win. Junior Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) added 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and five steals. The Purple Knights made 20-of-23 free throws, including 13-of-15 in the second half, to hold off the Panthers.

For Adelphi (3-17, 0-15 NE-10), Kara Tancredi had a team-best 17 points and eight rebounds, making 8-of-13 shots from the floor. Ashley Caiafa added 15 points, including three 3-pointers, while Alexis Williams posted 11 points and three steals.

Saint Michael's led nearly the entire first half, stretching its margin to 33-23 following a Keller jumper with 5:21 left in the period. The Panthers, however, closed the half on an 11-3 run to narrow their deficit to 37-34 at the break.

The game remained close throughout the entire second half, with neither team leading by more than five points. Adelphi held a 62-60 lead with 1:39 to go following a basket from Erika Cottle, but Otey's 3-point play with just over a minute remaining gave Saint Michael's the lead for good, and Adelphi then missed a 3-pointer and committed a turnover on its next possession. Two free throws from junior Marilyn Ferreira (New London, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) with 23 seconds to go pushed the Purple Knights' lead to 65-62, and following a missed Panthers' lay-up, two more foul shots from Keller with seven seconds remaining sealed the Purple Knights' win.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. contest at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

##PURPLEKNIGHTS###