Farmingdale, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team was defeated on the road at Farmingdale St. on Thursday by a score of 83-71 in the Skyline Conference Tournament
Semifinals. The Rams were led by Kimberly Blakney who scored a game-high 29 points, while the Mount was paced by a double-double from
Courtney Heesemann (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Farmingdale St. opened the game by scoring the first 10 points, keyed by a pair of three-pointers from Blakney in the first three-plus minutes of the contest. The Mount answered with the next eight points on two three-pointers from Lauren Percodani (Staten Island, N.Y.) and a lay-up from Heesemann to pull to within 10-8 just over five minutes into the tilt.
After a third triple from Percodani put the Mount within a point, Farmingdale St. used an 18-5 run to push its lead to 12 points with 7:55 left in the opening period. The Dolphins would then put together a 19-6 spurt capped by a Percodani lay-in to take a one point lead at 37-36 with 1:33 left before the break. A jumper from Heesemann with 48 ticks left closed out the scoring in the half, as the Dolphins rebounded from a pair of double-digit deficits to take a three point edge into the intermission.
Heesemann led all scorers in the first half with 13 points on 5-7 shooting, as the Mount shot 53.6-percent from the field in the opening 20:00. Percodani and Jen Mocanu (Middletown, N.J.) also netted double-figures, each scoring 11 points in the first period.
The Dolphins would hold onto the lead until the 15:34 mark of the second half when Blakney canned a pair of free-throws to give the Rams a 47-46 lead. Mount Saint Vincent freshman Ashley Ruiz (Carmel, N.Y.) pushed the Mount back in front on the ensuing possession with a three, before the two teams traded buckets and the lead over the next three possessions.
The Rams would push their lead to three points following a Blankey lay-in, but Karissa Koerner (Bay Shore, N.Y.) would get the Dolphins back even on a triple to knot the score at 54-54. Tiffara Steward would give Farmingdale St. the three point advantage right back on a triple, before the Rams ran out to a five point lead with just over nine minutes left on a Gabrielle Green bucket.
The Dolphins cut back into the deficit and pulled to within one point with 6:19 left, before five quick points in a 19 second span put a halt to the rally. Dominique Cunningham pushed the Ram lead back to three on a jumper before a costly turnover and subsequent three-pointer from Blakney gave the Rams the momentum back with a six point lead with under six minutes left on the clock.
The Dolphins would not be able to recover and never pulled any closer than six points the remainder of the contest. A Percodani jumper with nine ticks left in the game closed out the scoring with the final 83-71.
Mount Saint Vincent shot 40.6-percent from the field in the contest overall, but just 30.6-percent in the second half. The Dolphins really struggled from the free-throw line going just 11-21 in the game.
Heesemann finished the game 8-15 from the floor, while Mocanu finished with 20 points on 7-17 shooting. She also grabbed nine rebounds and led the team with five assists. Percodani ended the contest with 15 points on 6-7 shooting overall and 3-3 shooting from behind the arc.
Farmingdale St. (17-8) shot 51.6-percent from the field in the game and went 10-21 from long distance. Blakney went 10-23 overall and 6-11 from three on her way to the game-high point total. She also posted 11 rebounds and handed out three assists. Cunningham added 16 points and six boards, while Miller and Steward added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The loss drops Mount Saint Vincent to 16-11 on the season. The Dolphins will await word on an ECAC bid which will be announced on Monday.
