Second-Half Comeback Powers Women's Basketball Past Purchase

Patchogue, NY| Junior Alicia Indence knocked down 13 points in the ­final quarter guiding the St. Joseph's College women's basketball team to a 74-71 Skyline Conference win over Purchase College Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles improve to 6-10 on the season (3-6 Skyline) and the Panthers slip to 6-10 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

Senior Andrea Iavarone was 11-for-14 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line finishing with 32 points and 25 rebounds.  Senior Jennifer Gubell pitched in with 13 points.

The Panthers were led by a 25-point performance by Kayla Ortiz.  Amber Jones added 18 points and Nyasia Harris recorded a double-double of 10 points and 15 boards.

The Golden Eagles broke a 6-6-stalemate midway through the opening frame with five unanswered points to take their largest lead of the afternoon, 11-6.  The Panthers regained the lead, 14-13, with just over two minutes left on the clock before closing out the quarter leading 17-15.

The Panthers erupted for eleven points to open the second quarter building their largest advantage of the game, 28-17.  Free throws by sophomore Juliana Cintron-Leonardo and Iavarone closed the gap to just six points, 28-22, but PC's Jones closed the half with a bucket from the outside sending the visitors into the break ahead 37-28.

Iavarone's 16 points led St. Joseph's in the third quarter outscoring the entire Purchase team bringing the Golden Eagles to within two, 49-47, heading into the final period.

Indence found Cintron-Leonardo down low for a game-tying lay-up, 53-53, with 7:44 left in the game.  After falling behind 64-57, the Golden Eagles went on an 8-0 run capped by back-to-back triples from Indence to go ahead 65-64 with just under three minutes to play.  A field goal and a couple free throws saw the Panthers to a 68-65 advantage, but Gubell's jumper and Indence's third bucket from long range in the quarter put SJC up 70-68 with 28 seconds on the clock.  Following a Purchase timeout, Ortiz sank a three off the inbound putting the visitors ahead 71-70, but key free throws in the final seconds from Indence and Gubell iced the 74-71 victory.

Though outshot 42.0% to 31.6% from the field, the Golden Eagles outrebounded the Panthers 57 to 40 while converting 26 second-chance points. 

SCJ returns to the Danzi Center Tuesday, January 30 when they host Sarah Lawrence.  Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm.