Daytona Beach, Fla. – The Mount Saint Mary College Women's Basketball team closed out play in the Dayton Beach Shootout on Wednesday afternoon with a 62-50 loss to Babson. Junior Jessica Rini (Seaford, N.Y.) posted her second straight double-double and sophomore Megan Kerutis (Merrimack, N.H.) added 10 points for the Knights.
 
The Knights' only lead of the game came just 13 seconds into the tilt when Maite Gritsko (Milford, Conn.) canned a jumper to give the Mount a 2-0 advantage. Babson answered with the next eight points to take a six point lead, before the Mount finished the opening period with the final five points, including a Janae Graham (Orange, Conn.) triple in the closing seconds to pull to with 10-9 after 10 minutes of action.
 
Babson came out of the break with a three-pointer from Katherine Tamulionis to regain a four point lead and outscored the Knights `19-6 over the final 8:41 of the second stanza to turn a 13-12 lead into a 32-18 halftime advantage. The Mount converted just three field goals in the quarter, with two coming from Kayla Cleare (West Hempstead, N.Y.).
 
Mount Saint Mary was held to 29.2-percent shooting over the first 20 minute of the game and converted just one of its three three-point field goal chances. Babson made five more field goals over the first two periods and knocked it two more three-pointers. Taylor Russell led all players at the break with 13 points.
 
Babson came out of the intermission with a 13-5 stretch over the first five minutes of the third period that saw it open a 48-23 lead on a Paula Materin jumper. The Beavers would hold at least a 20 point advantage throughout the period until a Kerutis three-point play with four seconds left brought the Knights to within 51-32.
 
The Knights chipped away at the disadvantage and got it down to 56-44 on a Rini jumper with 4:39 left, but would not be able to get any closer. The Beavers pushed the lead back out to 17 points on a Russell bucket late in the fourth quarter, before a Rini jumper and three-pointer from Gritsko pulled the Knights back to the final 12 point decision.
 
The Knights shot better than 37-percent from the floor after halftime, but struggled from behind the arc after going 2-for-9 from bonus distance in the second half. Overall, the Mount finished the game shooting just under 34-percent and went 3-for-12 from beyond the arc.
 
Rini scored in double-figures for the fourth time in the last five games after pacing the Knights with 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting. She added 10 rebounds and three blocks on the day. Kerutis finished with 10 points and matched her season-high with five assists.
 
Gristsko chipped in with seven points to go along with three assists and two steals, while Cleare rounded out the day with six points and team-highs in rebounds with 11 and steals with three.
 
Babson featured two players in double-figures, including a game-high 17 points from Giovanna Pickering who went 7-for-18 from the floor. Russell added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jennifer Narlee hauled in 10 rebounds and handed out four assists.
 
Wednesday's loss drops Mount Saint Mary to 8-2 overall on the season. The Knights will return to action on January 4 when they travel to league rival Mount Saint Vincent. Tip-off with the Dolphins is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.