RIVERDALE, NY - The CMSV women's basketball team returned to action on Monday night, taking on Skyline Conference foe, St. Joseph's College-Long Island. The Dolphins came back to earn a 63-53 victory to improve to 7-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
Senior
Theresa Carey led the way for CMSV, as she poured in a career-high 22 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, notching her first career double-double.
Kristen Merrell chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds, while
Christina Barone added 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Dolphins started out the game struggling to find their offensive rhythm but still managed to keep within one score of the Golden Eagles. After a Carey made layup to bring the Dolphins to within one at 8-7 with 7:04 left, the Dolphins made on field goals the remainder of the quarter and trailed 17-11 after the first 10 minutes of play.
The Golden Eagles expanded their lead to 12 points with 7:46 in the 2nd quarter, both teams struggled to get the offense going in the 2nd quarter as St. Joe's would take a 30-21 lead into halftime.
To start the 3rd quarter, the Golden Eagles expanded their lead to 14 points after a 3-pointer by Rynese Smith made the score 37-23 with 6:33 left in the quarter.
CMSV began chipping away at the lead and got to within five points with 1:28 left, after a Carey steal and fast break layup made the score 43-38. The Dolphins trailed by eight heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, CMSV turned up the defensive pressure and continued to ride the hot hand of their senior guard. They opened up the quarter on a 7-1 run to cut the lead to 47-45 and would eventually tie the game at 49-49 after a steal and fast break layup by
Kelly Nola.
St. Joe's would make three free throws over the next two minutes to take a 52--49 with 4:07 to go. From that point on, the Dolphins defense would only surrender one more point. Trailing 52-51, CMSV would turn the Golden Eagles over on three straight possessions, to take a 57-52 lead with 2:12 to go.
CMSV would go 4-of-4 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure a 63-53 victory.
