FARMINGDALE, NY – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team dropped a hard fought 60-57 decision at Farmingdale State in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference
Tournament on Thursday night. A pair of sophomores led the Dolphins, as
Courtney Heesemann (New Hyde Park, NY) led the team with 18 points and classmate
Ciara Clarke (Warwick, NY) netted 15 points for the Mount.
Farmingdale ran out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening minutes keyed by two jumpers from Christine Daley. The Dolphins would respond with the next five points as Heesemann nailed a pair of free-throws and Clarke converted a three-pointer to get the Dolphins within one point with 16:19 left in the first half.
Farmingdale would then run out to a 12-5 lead with just under 15:00 left in the period, before Mount Saint Vincent came back to knot the score at 14-14 after a pair of free-throws from Clarke. Farmingdale would not relinquish the lead, however, until late in the first half. After Clarke hit another pair of free-throws to tie the score at 25-25 with 4:54 left in the half, the two teams would go scoreless until 1:26 remained when Jasmine Sistrunck hit a jumper for the Rams.
Following Sistrunk's jumper, the Mount would tie the score at 27 all when Karissa Koerner (Bay Shore, NY) knocked down a jumper. Farmingdale would regain a three point advantage with 44 seconds left after a three from Daley, before Hessemann closed the half with four straight points to send the Dolphins into halftime with a 31-30 lead.
In the opening period the Dolphins shot .381 from the field and converted 13 of 19 free-throws. Heesemann led the Dolphins in the half with 11 points and four rebounds, as she and Lauren Percodani (Staten Island, NY) played the entire 20:00.
After Heesemann converted a free-throw to open the scoring in the second half, Farmingdale State scored the next 13 points of the contest to open an 11 point lead, at 43-32, with 15:18 left in regulation. Farmingdale would open the largest lead of the game by either team at 12 points, twice, with the final time coming with 11:05 left in the contest.
Mount Saint Vincent would storm back in the contest and tie the score at 52-52 on a free-throw from junior Ashley Farrow (Ocean, NJ) with 7:24 left in regulation time. From there the Rams would score the next four points, before senior captain Kaitlin Burud (Red Hook, NY) tied the game at 56-56 with a lay-up and Heesemann convereted a free-throw to push the Mount ahead 57-56 with 46 seconds left..
Farmingdale would eventually win the game at the free-throw line as the Rams would convert four straight in the final 46 seconds. Sistruck buried the eventual game winner, before Daley converted a pair to send Farmingdale to the final 60-57 edge.
For the game, the Dolphins shot .349 from the field and hit just .308 from three-point range. Mount Saint Vincent attempted 25 more free-throw attempts then the Rams and converted 23-36 overall in the game. Farmingdale would attempt just 11 free-throws, but converted eight including the four in the final minute.
Heesemann scored a game-high 18 points converting five field goals and eight free-throws. Clarke reached her 15 by knocking down three triples and converting a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. Heesemann and Clarke were also the team leaders on the glass, recording nine and six rebounds respectively. Percodani and Burud each posted a pair of assists in the tilt for the Dolphins.
Farmingdale had three players in double-figures and was led by Daley's 17 points. Sistrunk recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams.
Thursday's loss drops the Dolphins record to 21-6 overall on the season.
