RIVERDALE, NY – Sophomore
Courtney Heesemann (New Hyde Park, NY) scored 26 points on 10-14 shooting, leading the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team to an 83-64 win over Purchase on
Thursday night. Heesemann was one of four players to score in double-figures for the Mount, who has reeled off three straight wins.
The Dolphins grabbed the lead on a lay-up by Heesemann just 49 seconds into the contest and never surrendered the advantage. With 15:14 remaining in the opening period, the Dolphins pushed the lead to 10 points when sophomore point guard Lauren Percodani (Staten Island, NY) buried a jumper to give the Mount a 14-4 advantage.
The lead would grow to 22 points three times in the first half, with the final time being with 7:46 remaining after a free-throw from senior captain Kaitlin Burud (Red Hook, NY). Purchase would then reel off 10 unanswered points to close to 13 when Jessie Domes knocked down a three with 5:51 left before the half.
Purchase would continue to close on the Mount, until they were within six at 44-38 heading into halftime. Janina Martinez put in a jumper with 18 seconds remaining to get the Panthers within six, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the night.
The Mount shot .469 from the floor in the opening 20:00, including .300 from long range. Heesemann poured in 15 of her 26 in the first half, while Percodani finished the period with eight points and six assists.
The Mount reopened a double-digit lead with 17:10 left to play in the contest on a Heesemann jumper and never let the Pathers within 10 points the rest of the evening. A Percodani free-throw with 4:30 left gave the Mount its biggest lead of the night at 78-51.
Joining Heesemann in double-figures on the night were Percodani and Karissa Koerner (Bay Shore, NY) who each posted 13 points. Ciara Clarke (Warwick, NY) scored 11 points in the game and was a perfect 3-3 from three-point land.
Heesemann pulled down five rebounds for the Mount, but the team was led in the category by Edeana Martinez (Bronx, NY) who finished with eight. Percodani posted a game-high 10 assists in the contest and added five steals and a blocked shot. Heeseamann contributed four steals and three assists in the win.
For the game, the Mount shot a red-hot .518 (29-56) from the floor, including .438 (7-16) from three-point range. The Dolphins held a 32-20 edge in points in the paint and forced 26 Panther turnovers, converting those into 28 points. The Mount also converted 18 points off of the fast break on the night. Mount Saint Vincent held the Panthers to just .353 shooting from the field and .118 shooting from three on the night.
Purchase had three players finish in double-figures, led by Domes' 17 points. Martinez led everyone in the contest with 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points.
The win moves the Dolphins to 11-3 overall and to 8-2 in Skyline Conference play. They will look for their fourth straight win on Saturday when they travel to Farmingdale St. to take on the front running Rams. Tip-off is schedule for 1:00 p.m.
