Box Score

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – After watching their lead dwindle, the Mount Saint Mary College women's basketball team held on for a 64-60 win over Farmingdale State College in a critical Skyline Conference contest. The Knights claimed the Skyline Conference regular season championship and will be the number one seed in next week's playoffs. At the conclusion of the regular season the Mount boasts an overall record of 22-3 and a 13-1 mark in the conference. The Rams move to 14-9 on the season and 12-2 in Skyline play.

Although the Rams knocked down the first bucket of the game, the Knights ensued with a 14-0 run that spanned nine minutes. A jumper by sophomore Rachel Perrone (Poughquag, N.Y.) at the 10:57 mark moved the score to 14-2 in favor of the Knights.

With just over nine minutes remaining in the half, Ram junior Jeanette Zubizarreta (Bay Shore, N.Y.) nailed a jumper to break the scoring drought, but the Rams would never got closer than 10. The Knights scored 14 points off of turnovers to build a 30-16 lead at the break.

Back to back three pointers by Farmingdale State College junior Nikita Green (Roosevelt, N.Y.) and freshman Christina Merrill (Levittown, N.Y.) pulled the Rams to within 10, 34-34, in the opening minutes of the second. After a scoreless first half, Farmingdale junior Baytania Newman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) exploded for four consecutive baskets that highlighted an 8-0 run by the Rams. Newman's layup at the 13:54 mark brought the Rams to within six, 38-32.

Trailing by nine around the three minute mark, the Rams used a 7-0 run to cut the lead to just two, 58-56, with only a minute to go. A foul by Merrill sent Mount senior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) to the line. Horvers knocked down both free throws to put the Knights back up by three, 59-56.

With a four point lead and the clock winding down, a Mount foul put Farmindale senior Dominique Cunningham (Amityville, N.Y.) on the line. Cunningham converted both to make it a two point game, 60-58, with just 22 seconds left. Mocanu and Horvers went 4-4 from the free throw line in the final 11 seconds to solidify the win for the Knights.

On senior day it was only fitting that Mocanu led the way with 17 points. Fellow senior Horvers and Perrone added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Natalie Garbie (Bayville, N.J.) was the only player to record a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards. Junior Charneice McCullough (Wyandanch, N.Y.) had another impressive day running the point, while dishing out eight assists and recording five steals.

The Rams were led by Newman, who tallied 16 points all of which came in the second half. Merrill shot 3-4 from three point land and added 11 points, while Green chipped in with 10 points in addition to dishing out six assists.

The Knights enter the Skyline Conference tournament as the one seed and will host fourth seeded St. Joseph's College. The game will be played on Thursday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m.