Newburgh, N.Y. – Erin Smith (Goshen, N.Y.) came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points and led four players in double-figures as the Mount Saint Mary College Women's Basketball team ran its winning streak to five games with an impressive 69-49 home win over the United States Merchant Marine Academy Wednesday evening.
Wednesday's win gives the Knights five straight triumphs and 13 in its last 14 games overall and improves them to 17-3 overall and 15-1 against league rivals. The Mariners, who entered the night a game behind the Mount in the conference standings, fall to 18-5 overall and 14-4 in league action.
First Half
- A sluggish first quarter saw the Mariners take a 13-12 advantage after 10 minutes on a Grace Jackson buzzer beating three-pointer to end the opening stanza.
- The Knights gained their first lead of the game when Annie Keenan (Nesconset, N.Y.) put back an offensive rebound to push the Knights in front 8-7.
- After falling behind 10-8, the Knights scored four straight points on a Keenan jumper and Lauren Desrats (Warwick, N.Y.) layup to pull in front 12-10.
- Jackson erased the deficit at the first quarter horn with a three-pointer to give the Mariners a one-point edge heading to the second period.
- Mount Saint Mary opened the second stanza on a 12-2 run to open a 24-15 advantage on a Keenan three-point play with 6:51 left before halftime.
- The lead grew to 10 points on a Morina Bojka (Prospect, Conn.) jumper at the 1:26 mark of the second stanza.
- Mount Saint Mary went on to carry a 32-20 advantage into the intermission following another Bojka conversion with 12 ticks on the second quarter clock.
- Mount Saint Mary outscored USMMA 20-7 in the second quarter and finished the first half shooting 34.3-percent overall.
- USMMA was held to 25.8-percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes and 2-for-8 from three-point range.
- Smith led the Mount with 11 points on the strength of 4-for-9 shooting, including two triples.
- Jackson led all scorers with 12 first half points for USMMA.
Second Half
- Mount Saint Mary scored 25 points in the third period on 56.3-percent shooting.
- The Knights quickly spread their lead to 45-22 with a 13-2 run coming out of halftime.
- Katie Smith (Goshen, N.Y.) keyed the run with six points with Keenan adding five tallies.
- The lead reached 24 points twice late in the third period before an E. Smith lay-in in the final 10 seconds of the quarter sent the Mount to the fourth with a 57-34 lead.
- The Knights did not let their advantage slip below 17 points in the final stanza and surged to a game-high 69-43 lead on a Shannon Phelan (Tappan, N.Y.) three-pointer with 2:37 left to play.
- USMMA scored the final six points of the game to close to within the final 20-point decision.
- Mount Saint Mary outscored the Mariners 37-29 after halftime on 43.8-percent shooting in the final two periods.
- The Knights hit four three-pointers in the second half and went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
- USMMA converted at 34.5-percent in the second half and connected on a pair of three-pointers.
- Bojka led the Knights with nine second half points.
- K. Smith scored eight points after halftime.
- Jackson led the way for the Mariners after the break with 10 points.
For The Knights
- E. Smith finished the night 6-for-15 from the floor with three triples on her way to the career-high point total. She added three rebounds and a steal.
- Bojka totaled 15 points on the strength of a 5-for-5 effort from the free-throw line and contributed nine rebounds, three assists and two steals to the winning effort.
- Keenan finished off her third straight double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
- K. Smith tallied 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting.
For The Mariners
- Jackson scored a game-high 22 points and added nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.
- Madison Demos led all players with 13 rebounds and chipped in eight points.
- Julia Dahlke handed out four assists, grabbed four rebounds and contributed six points.
Game Statistics
- Mount Saint Mary shot 38.8-percent overall and knocked down six three-pointers.
- USMMA was held to 30-percent overall with four three-pointers.
- The Knights forced 25 turnovers leading to a 23-10 edge in points off of miscues.
- The Mount edged USMMA in the paint 28-22.
- The Mount bench outscored the Mariners' 25-8.
What's Next
- Mount Saint Mary closes a four-game home stand against Sarah Lawrence on Saturday.
- USMMA hosts Purchase on Saturday.
