NEWBURGH, N.Y.-The Mount Saint Mary College women's basketball team continued their bid for the Skyline Conference championship on Thursday evening after defeating the visiting Panthers of Old Westbury in the semifinal game by score of 71-59. The win moves the Knights to 24-2 overall on the year and a perfect 19-0 in Skyline play. The Panthers close the season at 19-7 and finish with a 13-6 record in the Skyline. 

A lay-up by sophomore Kate Hartnett (Floral Park, N.Y.) with 13:57 remaining in the first half of play gave the Knights an eleven point lead (16-5). The Panthers erupted for a 13-4 run and a three-pointer by freshman Kim Weathers at the 7:03 mark decreased the Mount lead to two (20-18). Sophomore Charneice McCullough (Wyandanch, N.Y.) knocked down a shot from three-point range with 6:31 remaining in the half to spark the Knights in the closing minutes of the half. The Mount walked into the locker room with a 36-27 lead. The Knights capitalized on Panther turnovers, as they converted 14 points off of turnovers in the first half. 

Both teams came out of the locker room cold and with nine minutes elapsed in the second half the teams had scored a combined 13 points. Weathers drilled a three-pointer with 10:07 remaining in the game to bring the Panthers to within six (45-39), but a 13-0 run by the Mount would put the game out of reach for the Panthers. Junior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) added six of her 17 second half points during the run, which kept the Panthers off the board for five minutes. The Mount was in possession of a nineteen point lead with just under five minutes to play in the game, but the Panthers fought back. Another Weathers' three-pointer with 1:37 left in the game kept the Panthers in the game by moving the score to 62-53, but the Knights shot 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes of play to seal the win. 

Mocanu scored a game-high 24 points for the Knights in addition to dishing out a game-high seven assists. Senior Jess Tice (Altamont, N.Y.) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Hartnett just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds and junior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) added 11 points. 

Weathers led the Panthers with 22 points and six assists. Old Westbury junior Denise Zajonic added half of her eight points in the final three minutes of play. Freshman Deslyn Applewhaite chipped in with nine points and six boards. 

The Knights return to the Skyline Championship game, which will be played on Saturday, February 26. The Mount will host the Farmingdale State College Rams at a time to be announced.